Updated September 20, 2021

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to impact all aspects of society, Washington Sea Grant (WSG) has been mobilizing its resources to support communities and stakeholders across the state:

USDA Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program

The Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program provides funding to help small specialty crop producers, food processors, manufacturers, distributors and farmers markets recover costs incurred by responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including for measures to protect workers. This program is authorized and funded under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 116—260). The minimum funding request amount is $1,500. The maximum funding request amount is $20,000. No cost sharing or matching funds are required. Grants will cover activities associated with:

• Workplace Safety: Implementing workplace safety measures to protect against COVID-19
• Market Pivots: Implementing market pivots to protect against COVID–19
• Retrofitting Facilities: Retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety to protect against COVID–19
• Transportation: Providing additional transportation options to maintain social distancing and worker and consumer safety to protect against COVID-19
• Worker Housing: Providing worker housing that protects against COVID-19
• Medical: Providing health services to protect workers against COVID-19

 Important Dates:

• Check your eligibility and request a DUNS number now.
• Application Period Opens: September 23, 2021
• Application Period Closes: 11:59 PM Eastern Time on November 8, 2021

Visit the PRS Portal for more information and to apply for the USDA PRS Grant Program!

Additional resource pages for the shellfish industry in the state

Additional resource pages for Washington State fishers

Additional resource pages for families and educators

• WSG and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) are partnering with commercial fishermen to increase awareness of Washington State’s sustainably harvested seafood products, which has become particularly critical in the face of the current COVID-19 outbreak. This initiative addresses a gap in consumer information about fisheries management and the measures taken by WDFW to ensure that seafood delivered to Washington consumers is sustainably caught, while raising consumer awareness of fishing techniques, business practices, and economic impact.
• At the onset of the outbreak, Washington Sea Grant provided an online webinar on COVID-19 resources for the shellfish industry which is still relevant and featured speakers from the Washington Department of Commerce.
• A social media campaign continues to run through summer and fall months and during National Seafood Month in October,  sharing seafood recipes and encouraging Washington consumers to purchase Washington seafood directly from fishers. These recipe resources are available here.
• WSG has published several blog posts describing the impacts of COVID-19 to various aspects of our programming, including:
  • How COVID-19 is Impacting Washington Sea Grant Research Efforts
  • Community Science Volunteers are as Important as Ever During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Crab Team and COVID-19
  • Creative Solutions to Social Science During a Time of COVID-19
  • Director’s Note: Marine Resources for the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Director’s Note: Washington Sea Grant’s Response to COVID-19

We will continue to update these resource pages as we collectively respond with an abundance of caution to the needs of our communities during this time of change.