Discrimination Financial Assistance Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency administered the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (CFDA 10.984) under Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act, with the most recent grant disbursements occurring in summer and fall 2024.

The program provided $2.2 billion in one-time financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending prior to January 1, 2021. Assistance was distributed through U.S. Treasury checks issued beginning July 29, 2024, with a final correction round in October 2024. Recipients had one year from the issued date to cash their check, with no restrictions on fund use or time limit for spending. The program is no longer actively accepting applications.

USDA hired nongovernmental entities to administer intake, review, validation, and outreach; a National Administrator and two Regional Hubs performed these functions. All individual eligibility decisions were made by program administrators using USDA standards, with USDA providing oversight and endorsement of final decisions. Individual award records must be retained for three years from the date of submission of the final financial report. Because assistance was provided to individuals, standard federal award compliance requirements do not apply.

The program operated as a single Cooperative Agreement (FBC23CPT0013022) awarded to Mid-Town Personnel Inc. on May 25, 2023, acting as a pass-through agency for subsequent state-by-state distribution to individual beneficiaries. The cooperative agreement formally closed on October 31, 2024. This program represents a closed, one-time statutory appropriation rather than an ongoing annual funding opportunity. Organizations considering federal grant pursuit should note that new applications are not being accepted under this Assistance Listing.