USDA is now accepting applications for the new Pandemic Response and Safety Grant program to cover COVID-related expenses such as workplace safety measures, retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety, shifting to online sales platforms, transportation, worker housing, and medical costs. Eligible entities include small specialty crop producers, processors, distributors, and farmers markets. The minimum funding request is $1,500 and the maximum funding request is $20,000.
USDA is focusing this first round of funding to 1) small producers, 2) food processors and distributors that meet small business size standards, and 3) farmers markets. USDA may expand eligibility in future rounds of funding to include additional businesses not covered by the first round.
More information about eligibility requirements, including the NAICS definition of “small” for producers, processors, and distributors is available at https://usda-prs.grantsolutions.gov/usda?id=usda_eligibility_info.
| NAICS codes
(Visit US Census Bureau website for more information) |
NAICS U.S. industry title | Size standards in millions of dollars
Example: $5.0 =$5,000,000 |
| 111310 | Orange Groves | $5.0 |
| 111320 | Citrus (except Orange) Groves | $5.0 |
| NAICS Codes
(Visit US Census Bureau website for more information) |
NAICS U.S. industry title | Size Standards in Millions of Dollars Example: $30.0 =$30,000,000 |
| 115114 | Post-Harvest Crop Activities3 (except cotton ginning) Only specialty crops related post-harvest activities are eligible under this NAICS code. |
$30.0 |
Application Period Opens for Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program to Provide Relief to Small Producers, Processors, Distributors and Farmers Markets Impacted by COVID-19
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a Request for Applications (RFA) for the new Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant program and encourages eligible entities to apply now for funds. Applications must be submitted electronically through the grant portal at https://usda-prs.grantsolutions.gov/usda by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, November 22, 2021. Approximately $650 million in funding is available for the PRS grants, which are funded by the Pandemic Assistance provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
The PRS Grant program will assist small businesses in certain commodity areas, including specialty crop producers, shellfish farming, finfish farming, aquaculture, and apiculture; specialty crop, meat, and other processors; distributors; and farmers markets. Small businesses and nonprofits in these industries can apply for a grant to cover COVID-related expenses such as workplace safety measures (e.g., personal protective equipment (PPE), retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety, shifting to online sales platforms, transportation, worker housing, and medical costs. The minimum funding request is $1,500 and the maximum funding request is $20,000.
The RFA and the PRS Grant Portal provide more details about eligibility for the grant. Eligible entities are required to obtain a free DUNS Number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) before applying for this program. USDA has created a custom PRS DUNS number portal at https://support.dnb.com/?CUST=PandemicResponse.
Application resources, including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), tip sheets in English and Spanish on applying for a DUNS Number, videos on “How to Apply” and more, are available on the PRS Grant Portal.
For more information, you can also reach out to the PRS help desk, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. ET at (301) 238-5550 or usda.ams.prs@grantsolutions.gov.
Check your eligibility, obtain a DUNS number, and learn more about the application process at the PRS Grant Portal.
