{"id":15204,"date":"2021-09-28T10:00:27","date_gmt":"2021-09-28T17:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calcanstaging.kinsta.cloud\/?p=15204"},"modified":"2025-09-12T05:11:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T12:11:30","slug":"covid-relief-funding-soon-available-for-farmers-markets-processors-and-underserved-farmers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/calclimateag.org\/es\/covid-relief-funding-soon-available-for-farmers-markets-processors-and-underserved-farmers\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID Relief Funding Soon Available for Farmers Markets, Processors and Underserved Farmers"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPDATED OCTOBER 6, 2021:<\/p>\n

As of October 6, USDA is now accepting applications for its Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program<\/strong>\u00a0and will be doling out more than $650 million in aid to food processors, distributors, farmers markets, and producers who have been impacted by the pandemic.\u00a0The deadline for submitting applications is by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, November 22, 2021.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

$650 million in aid to food processors, distributors, farmers markets, and producers who have been impacted by the pandemic<\/h2>\n

This blog is reposted from\u00a0National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)<\/a>\u00a0NSAC advocates for federal policy reform for the sustainability of food systems, natural resources, and rural communities and CalCAN is a member. See the original post\u00a0aqu\u00ed<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

With farmers pulling long hours at the height of harvest season, and cases of the coronavirus skyrocketing across the country, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will soon be providing additional funding to help many in our food and farm supply chains who were left out of previous aid programs.<\/p>\n

Starting in early October 2021, USDA will be accepting applications for its\u00a0Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program<\/strong>\u00a0and will be doling out more than $650 million in aid to food processors, distributors, farmers markets, and producers who have been impacted by the pandemic.<\/p>\n

Read on to see if this program is right for you or those in your community. More details can be found at the\u00a0USDA\u2019s PRS portal.<\/a><\/p>\n

Who is eligible?<\/h2>\n

PRS funding is available for food processors, distributors, farmers markets, food hubs, and producers that meet the Small Business Administration\u2019s (SBA) \u201csmall business\u201d size standards, as well as other non-profit organizations. This includes small-scale diversified and specialty crop producers, produce distribution companies, meat processors and distributors, food hubs, and farmers markets. At the time of writing, AMS\u2019s PRS factsheet lists 501(c)3 nonprofits as being eligible, however USDA intends to clarify in associated application documents that:<\/p>\n

Nonprofits include any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization, not including institutions of higher education, that: (1) Is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest; (2) Is not organized primarily for profit; and (3) Uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operations of the organization.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In other words, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5) and 501(c)(6) status will also be eligible to apply for PRS funds.<\/p>\n

All farmers markets are considered \u201csmall\u201d. For all other businesses, check to see if you meet the Small Business\u00a0criteria here<\/a>. (Note: you will need to know your 6 digit NAICS code. If you don\u2019t know which NAICS code to select, visit\u00a0census.gov<\/a>). Food hubs that sell into multiple market channels (i.e.- wholesale and direct to consumer,) should use the \u201cMerchant Wholesaler, Nondurable Goods\u201d NAICS set of codes. If the food hub is marketing a mix of items (fresh produce, manufactured goods, animal products, etc.), in other words, not just fresh produce, they can either choose the predominant merchant category (e.g., mostly fresh fruit and vegetables,) or apply under \u201cOther grocery and related products\u201d.<\/p>\n

More details on eligibility can be found on\u00a0AMS\u2019s eligibility portal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How to apply<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. If you think you might be eligible for funding, and are interested in applying, first verify your eligibility\u00a0aqu\u00ed<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  2. If you are eligible, then make sure to register for your DUNS number\u00a0aqu\u00ed<\/a>\u00a0to ensure you can receive payments from USDA. While it should only take less than 5 minutes to complete your DUN application, it can take up to 5 business days to receive your DUNS number, so do not wait till the last minute!<\/li>\n
  3. Finally, once you have verified that you are eligible and have applied for your DUNS,\u00a0click here<\/a>\u00a0(once the Request for Applications\u00a0open in early October) to complete USDA\u2019s online PRS application by midnight ET on the stated deadline. Once open, applicants will have 45 days to apply.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What costs are covered?<\/h2>\n

    Costs incurred between January 27, 2020 and December 31, 2021 to respond to and protect workers against the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are eligible for reimbursement. These include costs to:<\/p>\n