The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) invites Georgia agricultural employers, producers, and stakeholders to attend a webinar on the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP). FSA State Executive Director Arthur Tripp, FSA staff, and representatives from USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will provide an overview and take questions regarding this grant opportunity, which is designed to improve the resiliency of the food and agricultural supply chain by addressing workforce challenges farmers and ranchers face. The virtual meeting is free and open to the public and will take place on Dec. 5, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Those who plan to attend should email [email protected] to request the webinar link.
“FLSP will help address workforce needs in agriculture, promote a safe and healthy work environment for farmworkers, and aims to support expansion of lawful migration pathways for workers through the Department of Labor’s seasonal H-2A visa program,” said Tripp. “Through this webinar, we will equip agricultural employers with the information and tools they need to understand and apply for this funding opportunity.”
Eligibility for this competitive grant program is limited to domestic agricultural employers who 1) anticipate meeting all Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulatory requirements for the H-2A program, including demonstrated effort to effectively recruit U.S.-based workers and hire all willing, able, and qualified U.S. workers; and 2) commit to, and indicate capacity to fulfill all Baseline Requirements, as well as any selected (supplemental) commitments that entail additive worker benefits and protections. Eligible employers include fixed-site employers, joint-employers, agricultural associations, and H-2A labor contractors.
The maximum award amount is $2,000,000 and the minimum amount is $25,000 per grant agreement (including any sub-awardees)….
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