Updates:
- This grant is closed. All funds were disbursed amongst 62 facilities in Massachusetts for eligible costs under this program.
- Per USDA guidance: SPRS beneficiary funds received from this program are taxable.
Description
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety (SPRS) Block Grant Program provided funds to assist seafood processors and wholesale dealers with expenses incurred in response to COVID-19. On February 14, 2022, the USDA officially announced grant awards to states for this program.
In October 2022, MA DMF distributed approximately $1.1 million to eligible seafood processors and wholesale dealers to reimburse for costs in the following categories:
- Workplace safety measures
- Market pivots
- Retrofitting facilities
- Transportation
- Worker housing
- Medical services
Eligibility Requirements
- Must have held a Massachusetts Wholesale Seafood Dealer Permit in 2020 or 2021 that included seafood processor or primary buyer activities.
- Must have records of eligible COVID-19-related expenses (listed above) incurred between January 27, 2020, and December 31, 2021, unique to the permitted facility on the application.
- Eligibility is not based on loss related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Application Process
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MA DMF developed an application for this program in coordination with industry partners.
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MA DMF mailed applications on March 31, 2022, to all potentially eligible permit holders. Applications were due to MA DMF by June 14, 2022. If your business received multiple applications, you were able to submit multiple applications as long as expenses were unique to only the permitted facility on the application.
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There was a federal audit component to this grant opportunity. As such, following the application period, MA DMF audited a portion of applicants to include documentation of the costs for which they requested reimbursement.
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After applications were reviewed and qualified, MA DMF registered eligible beneficiaries as vendors with the Commonwealth to issue payments in the form of an electronic funds transfer (EFT).
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Payments to eligible beneficiaries were issued on October 28, 2022, via EFT. The payments were based on eligible expenses received in SPRS applications, with a capped payment amount based on applications received and available MA SPRS funds.