The  U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is launching a streamlined application portal to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $150,000 or less through participating lenders to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA.      This new change will help rush relief to over 6.5 million of the smallest of small businesses, which has been the SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman’s priority since day one. The new forgiveness platform…

If you missed it, now’s your chance to experience the NACE/ECSGA virtual trade show. Each vendor gave a 15-minute presentation and the recordings are now available. Vendors included: Atlantic Aquaculture SupplyEast Coast Shellfish Growers Association EPaintFlip FarmFormutechIndustrial NettingIndustrial PlanktonKetcham TrapsMaine Aquaculture AssociationNational Aquaculture AssociationOyster Seed HoldingsOysterGroOyster TrackerReed MaricultureShellevatorThunderbird Plastics

Growers who experienced a big crop loss in 2019 and were able to collect an indemnity payment through NAP should be able to recalculate their 2019 sales revenue (which was probably low because of the crop loss) and resubmit for a larger Coronavirus Food Assistance Program phase 2 (CFAP2) payout.   https://www.farmers.gov/cfap FSA updated the CFAP 2 payment calculation for aquaculture commodities to account for crop insurance indemnities and payments…

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loans to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. SBA is currently offering: First Draw PPP Loans for first time program participants Second Draw PPP Loans for certain businesses who have previously received a PPP loan The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) now allows certain eligible borrowers that previously received a PPP loan to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan…

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loans to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. SBA is currently offering: First Draw PPP Loans for first time program participants Second Draw PPP Loans beginning January 13, 2021 for certain businesses who have previously received a PPP loan First Draw PPP Loans can be used to help fund payroll costs, including benefits. Funds can also be used to…

On November 16, 2020 the ECSGA joined with the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association (PCSGA) in submitting a comment letter to the Army Corps of Engineers on our general support for the use of Nationwide Permits (NWPs) for activities, such as shellfish farming, which result in no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental impacts. The letter made clear that our two organizations believe that several statements and positions…

Register for the Dec. 11 Webinar Aquaculture is Agriculture: USDA’s Role in supporting Farmers of Fish, Shellfish and Aquatic Plants here. Advance registration is required. 9:00 am           Welcoming and Opening Remarks 9:30 am           Aquaculture Aligns with the Ag Innovation Agenda and the Science BlueprintPeggy Biga, OCS                     9:50 am           USDA’s Role in Updating the National Aquaculture Development PlanJeffrey Silverstein, ARS 10:10 am         Aquaculture Intersects with AgricultureDan Northrup, Benson Hill…

USDA will be hosting a series of listening sessions providing the U.S. aquaculture industry an opportunity to communicate how USDA can best serve this farming community.  These Deep Dive sessions hosted by various USDA Agencies (see below) across the Department’s eight Mission Areas will be offered November 9 – 30 and will be followed by a December 11 webinar entitled Aquaculture is Agriculture: USDA’s Role in supporting Farmers of Fish,…

Thanks to Paul Zajicek at the National Aquaculture Association for sharing this important news: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, created a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. This action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars. SBA and Treasury have also…

Please join USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation Under Secretary Bill Northey and Farm Service Agency Associate Administrator Steve Peterson on Monday, September 21, 4:00 p.m. (Eastern) for a stakeholder call on the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2). USDA is implementing a second sign up of the CFAP for agricultural providers who continue to face market disruptions and associated marketing costs because of COVID-19. Signups will begin September 21, 2020…