The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the deadline for the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) to January 3, 2024.
On September 22, USDA announced the FLSP program will fund up to $65 million in competitive grants to 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, including for workers from Northern Central America, through the Department of Labor’s seasonal H-2A visa program.
USDA is soliciting applications from 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). Award amounts will be determined based on the projected number of full-time equivalent (FTE) agricultural employees, desired award level, as well as the competitive nature of the application. Consistent with the H-2A requirements, applicants must demonstrate insufficient availability of a U.S.-based workforce. The grant window for each recipient is 24 months, allowing producers to use the grant over the course of two agricultural production seasons.
Application Submission
Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. on January 3, 2024. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered for funding.
For questions, contact FLSPGrants@usda.gov. Additional information is available on the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program webpage. USDA is hosting a webinars and offices hours to provide applicants with an overview of the program. Please visit the FLSP Technical Assistance webpage for information about upcoming webinars and office hours.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.