Small Maine agricultural, seafood businesses eligible for pandemic relief

Small Maine agricultural and seameals processing companies are eligible To use for federal COVID-19 aid funding by way of two grant packages introduced by the U.S. Division of Agriculture on Friday.

Out of $700 million in federal funding for U.S. corporations, $650 million Is out tright here by way of the Pandemic Response and Safety Grant program, wright hereas $50 million Is out tright here by way of the Seameals Pandemic Response Safety Grant program.

The packages are meant for small companies in commodities collectively with small-scale specialty crop producers and processors; shellfish, aquaculture and completely different choose producers; meat and completely different processors; distributors; farmers’ markets; and seameals amenities and processing vessels.

Of the $50 million in grants for seameals chain aid, solely $850,000 has been designated to the State of Maine, Based mostly on Annie Tselikis, authorities director of the Maine Lobster Sellers’ Affiliation.

Each packages are funded by the Pandemic Assist currentd Inside the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The USDA said it expects to publish requests for purposes quickly.

“As a Outcome of the financial system continues To understand power after the Biden Administration’s historic valuation and financial aid efforts, USDA is working with agricultural and meals companies To Guarantee They’ve the assets and devices to thrive in 2021 and past,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

“The funding Associated to USDA Pandemic Assist Is Alleged to Carry out a bridge from disruptions Associated to the pandemic to longer-time period investments To help construct again A greater meals system. Monetary aid To these important distributors, processors and completely different small agricultural companies is essential to get our meals system again on monitor.”

Members of Maine’s Congressional delegation welcomed the funding in a separate announcement on Friday.

“As a Outcome of the onset of the pandemic, meals processors have Needed To take a place vital time, assets And a spotlight To shield their staff and safeguard their capability To current meals to our nation in a time of unprecedented disaster,” said a joint assertion by U.S. Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, and U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine 1st District, and Jared Golden, D-Maine 2nd District.

The lawmakers additionally noticed that the success of seameals processors To fulfill and overcome the challenges created by COVID is immediately linked to the success of fishermen who hazard their safety To reap the seameals that People take pleasure in.

“We welcome this federal help To help the meals current chain climate the pandemic, and we encourage eligible producers, distributors, processors and completely different small agricultural companies To use as shortly as potential,” they added.

Discover out extra Regarding the Pandemic Response and Safety Grant program right here, and Regarding the Seameals Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant program right here.

Editor’s notice: Story up So far to Clarify quantity coming to Maine for seameals chain aid.