Business Grants for Farm Workers
Since the 1935 birth of the Farm Security Administration (FSA), the United States government has offered grants to the nation's farm workers. State and local governments and private agencies also offer financial assistance to this traditionally less-than-thriving (in terms of economic success), hardworking population. While finding funding can seem overwhelming, an organized, committed approach to seeking grants should result in an array of grant options for farm workers.
Other People Are Reading
-
Federal Grants for 2009 and Beyond
-
The Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009 and created a variety of grants focused on "green job training". Two of these grants will directly benefit farm workers. A $100,000 grant to Kern County, California, will fund, in part, "a solar installation training program for adult farmworkers." Telamon Corporation in Raleigh, North Carolina, will also receive $100,000 to annually help hundreds of farm workers by "transitioning them into entry level occupations within green industries"
The Federal Grants Wire lists 14 types of active grants available for farm workers under headings such as "Community Assistance," "Employment Assistance," "Job Development," and "College Assistance Migrant Program." The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Health Resources and Services Administration administers an array of health care-related grants for farm workers.
Other 2009 Grants
-
In 2009, Catholic Charities, a nonprofit organization in Carlsbad, California, started work on a shelter for migrant farm workers using part of a $2 million grant administered by the city. Also in 2009, the American Academy of Physician Assistants awarded two community-based grants to student organizations that aid farm workers: the Quinnipiac University UCONN Migrant Farm Workers student project, which "provides direct patient care and health education intervention to migrant farm workers throughout the state of Connecticut," and Emory University's South Georgia Farmworker Health Project, which provides "free out-patient care to migrant and seasonal farm workers and their dependents in the southern tier of Georgia counties."
-
Who Receives Grants and Why
-
While varied in strategy and distribution, grants for farm workers focus on three primary issues: housing, health care, and education/training. Beneficiaries include counties and cities; local workforce investment boards and chambers of commerce; corporations; public and private, nonprofit groups that that focus of farm worker issues; farm worker associations; schools; and sometimes individuals.
How to Apply
-
Locate any and all grants that fit your needs. Even if your group or organization doesn't quite qualify as an applicant, you may be able to partner with a group that does fit the bill. Research local state and city government grant indexes. Check with local businesses and service organizations, like Rotary International or Pilot Club. Before approaching these local entities, consider how agriculture benefits the community and how a grant from the organization in question might help meet the needs of the farm working population and, thus, benefit the community at large.
Grants for 2010
-
The Washington Apple Education Foundation Farmworker Education Community & School Grant Program is offering 2010 funding for a project that improves the scholastic success of agricultural workers and their families.
-
References
- United States Department of Labor, "Labor Department Awards Rochester Organization Over $800,000 For Farm Worker Housing," Lorette Post, February 2004.
- The U.S. Department of Labor, "National Agricultural Workers Survey (2001-2002): A Demographic and Employment Profile of United States Farm Workers."
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Green Capacity Building Grants
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Kevin Dooley
