WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) released the below statement upon Governor Brian Kemp and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black announcing the Georgia Farm Recovery Block Grant Program to assist farmers and forest landowners impacted by Hurricane Michael:

“In October 2018, Hurricane Michael ripped through Georgia, leaving an estimated $3 billion in agriculture damages in its wake. Today after months of negotiations with USDA, the Georgia Department of Agriculture has announced the creation of the Georgia Farm Recovery Block Grant Program to assist farmers and forest landowners impacted by the storm. These block grants build upon federal USDA assistance the Georgia Congressional Delegation fought for in 2019 and will deliver additional resources for recovery efforts,” said Rep. Austin Scott. “I’d like to thank Governor Kemp, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, and Commissioner Black for their unwavering commitment to fighting for these block grants, and I will continue to work closely with them and local farmers and community leaders to ensure those impacted have access to these resources.”

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reached an agreement to allocate $347 million in block grant funds to Georgia farmers and forest landowners affected by Hurricane Michael through a state-administered recovery program. Enrollment for the program runs from March 18 to April 8, 2020 and is only available online at www.farmrecovery.com.

Funds for the Georgia Farm Recovery Block Grant come from H.R. 2157, Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019, which was signed into law on June 6, 2019.

-30-