Food-Related Resources
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a series of flexibilities to make it easier for children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities to get food during the COVID-19 national emergency and remove administrative roadblocks for the dedicated local staff who serve them. USDA is now allowing states to permit parents or guardians to take meals home to their children. It has also issued waivers on the times meals may be served (to make meal pick-up easier), the requirement that meals be served in group settings (to support non-congregate social distancing), and the requirement that afterschool meals and snacks served through certain programs be accompanied by educational activities (to minimize exposure to the novel coronavirus).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the deadline for ReConnect Pilot Program applications to April 15, 2020.
Rural Development (RD) has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Opportunities for immediate relief are being offered by the RD Guaranteed Loan Program, the Rural Housing Service, the Rural Utilities Service and the Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
RD has also announced deadlines for upcoming Community Facilities and Distance Learning
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program - Application Deadline: April 10.
Second application window for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program funding - Applications for window two may be submitted through grants.gov beginning April 14, 2020, and are due no later than July 13, 2020
Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant - Electronic Application Deadline: April 30, 2020 via grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: May 5, 2020
Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant: Supplemental 2019 Disaster Relief Act Funding: Deadline: April 30, 2020 via grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: May 5, 2020
USDA Rural Development has launched a COVID-19 resource page to keep our customers, partners, and stakeholders continuously updated on actions taken by the Agency to help rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/coronavirus for information on Rural Development loan payment assistance, application deadline extensions, and more.
USDA warns SNAP recipients to be on the lookout for potential scammers using the COVID-19 situation to steal personal information. USDA is issuing this warning after receiving reports of several possible SNAP fraud attempts.
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Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)/National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO)
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)/ National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), announced program requirement flexibilities that would allow schools, child care institutions, and community organizations to provide meals to low-income children through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO) during school closures related to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). For more information about SFSP/SSO, click here.