(NAFB) – The Department of Agriculture announced $700 million in competitive grant funding to help farmworkers and meatpacking workers with pandemic-related health and safety costs.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the new Farm and Food Workers Relief grant program funding Tuesday. Additionally, $20 million of the funding was set aside for at least one pilot program to support grocery workers. The program will provide relief to farmworkers, meatpacking workers, and front-line grocery workers for expenses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The relief is intended to defray costs for reasonable and necessary personal, family, or living expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will be awarded through grants to state agencies, tribal entities, and non-profit organizations serving farmworkers and meatpacking workers ranging from $5,000,000 to $50,000,000.

Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov.

USDA will soon announce a separate $700 million suite of pandemic safety and response grants for producers, processors, farmers markets, distributors, and seafood processors and vessels impacted by COVID-19.