$500 Grants to Farm Families Impacted by Covid-19

$500 Grants to Farm Families Impacted by Covid-19

Status: This was a one-time emergency relief program from 2020. The application deadline was July 28, 2020, and grants were awarded by July 31, 2020. This program is no longer accepting applications.

Funder: Farm Aid COVID-19 Farmer Resilience Initiative Grants, administered by Hawaii Farmers Union Foundation and The Kohala Center (both 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations).

Geographic Scope: Hawaii (all islands)

Eligibility

• Those whose livelihoods are dedicated to farming
• Bona fide family farm: Family operator(s) must be continually engaged in strategic management and day-to-day operational decisions and provide substantial on-site labor
• Farm must be recognized as a functioning farm where agricultural production is the primary or substantial means of family income (rural residences that are not producing farms are not eligible)
• Sustainable farms defined as farming/ranching units that:
- Produce horticultural crops, tree crops, or animals intended for human consumption - Integrate goals of environmental stewardship, economic profitability, and social and economic equity into their farming system

Award Amount

• $500 one-time emergency relief payment per successful applicant

Eligible Use of Funds

• Household expenses only, such as:
- Groceries - Home utilities - Medical bills - Other household expenses not directly related to commercial farm/ranch operation
• NOT eligible: Farm operations, business expenses, or farm investment
• IRS guidelines regarding direct assistance to farm families prohibit funding farm business costs

Selection Criteria

Applications assessed on:
• Amount of economic loss caused by COVID-19
• Whether farmer/farm has access to other federally funded relief funds (PPP, EIDL)
• Sustainable methods practiced by the farm
• Level of COVID impact to farm business
• Economic household need
• Farm produces horticultural crops, tree crops, or animals for human consumption
• Farm integrates environmental stewardship, economic profitability, and social/economic equity goals
• Recognition as a functioning farm where agricultural production is primary/substantial income source
• No receipt of other financial relief

Review Process

• Applications initially reviewed for basic qualifications of operating a working farm in Hawaii
• Qualified applications reviewed by committee from HFUF, HFUU, and The Kohala Center
• Each reviewer awarded points using 13-point scale
• Reviewers prioritized applications by rating and top applicants awarded payments
• Panel reviewers are farmers and organization representatives (receive no financial compensation)
• Reviewers not eligible to apply and must disclose conflicts of interest

Contact

Anny Bruch, Vice President of Hawaii Farmers Union Foundation
• Email: vicepresident@HFUF.org