Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper announced on Friday the opening window for applications in the SAFETY 24 Hurricane Helene Relief Loan Program, an emergency loan program meant to provide state farmers with recovery funds following damages caused by the September natural disaster.
The newly announced initiative, which will be administered on a first-come-first serve basis, will contribute towards providing lost income and continuing the operations of agriculture workers until more federal aid is approved.
Eligible uses of funds include income replacement, operating capitol, repairing or replacing damaged farm structures and the repairing or replacement of damaged equipment, according a recent press release from the department.
Our team at the Georgia Department of Agriculture has been working around the clock, in coordination with the Georgia Development Authority, to get the SAFETY 24 Hurricane Relief Loan Program online as quickly as possible so we can deliver these much-need funds to impacted farmers,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper in the release.
“Georgia’s farmers have experienced unprecedented losses as a result of Hurricane Helene and the storms that followed it, and we’re taking decisive action on the state level to provide relief for them as quickly as possible,” said Gov. Brian Kemp. “While we continue to call on Congress to take quick action in providing block grants that will further provide relief … we will continue fighting for the hardworking men and women of our No. 1 industry and all Georgians impacted by Helene.”
