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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2020 FARMERS AND CONSUMERS MARKET BULLETIN – 404-656-3722 – agr.georgia.gov PAGE 15
Department of Agriculture opens hemp grower license program to applicants

The Georgia Department of Agriculture began accepting Grower Rules; or any tax returns, forms, sales receipts or grower license. The GDA defines key participants as a busi-
hemp grower license applications on March 23. The initial other documentation requested by the GDA. ness partner or someone with executive management roles in
license fee is $50 per acre intended for hemp cultivation up If the applicant is applying as a business, the GDA will a corporation (e.g., CEO, COO, CFO, etc.).
to a maximum fee of $5,000 and is payable upon license ap- ask for copies of a current Certificate of Existence from the Hemp grower applicants must provide an affidavit of their
proval, according to the application guidelines. Georgia Secretary of State’s Office and any required local intended processor. A hemp grower license does not allow
The hemp grower license application can be completed business licenses. the licensee to process hemp. A hemp processor permit is
and submitted online only. A detailed application guide and The GDA also requires a copy of the deed or lease for required for the processing of hemp plants. Licensed hemp
more information are online at http://agr.georgia.gov/geor- each grow site property along with easements or licenses as growers who intend to process hemp must apply separately
gia-hemp-program.aspx. proof of legal authority to cultivate hemp on the site to be for a hemp processor permit.
Once an application is received, the department will ver- included with the online application. The site provides links for applicants to upload electronic
ify the applicant’s information, run background checks, col- As part of the grow site information, an aerial map or copies of the required documents.
lect payments and issue licenses. satellite imagery photograph is required with the application. Renewal applications, annual license fees, and annual
The GDA’s goal is to complete the application process in The map or photograph must clearly show the boundaries criminal background checks must be submitted by Dec. 1,
20 business days. The process can be delayed depending on and dimensions of each grow site, either a field or green- 2020. Licenses will expire on Dec. 31, 2020, if the renewal
the accuracy and completeness of the application. house and storage area. application, renewal fee, and background checks are not sub-
Applicants must prove they are qualified agricultural pro- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will perform back- mitted by Dec. 1, 2020.
ducers. They can do so by providing at least one of the fol- ground checks as part of the hemp grower license applica- More information, and a checklist for the hemp grower
lowing: a current GATE card (Georgia Agricultural Tax Ex- tion. A background check is required for each owner, key application process can be found at http://agr.georgia.gov/
emption); IRS forms from a select list in the Georgia Hemp participant or others holding beneficial interest in the hemp georgia-hemp-program.aspx.

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to small businesses economically impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration is of- McCormick, and Oconee in South Carolina; Bradley, Ham- Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based
fering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital ilton, Marion, and Polk in Tennessee. on the financial impact of the Coronavirus.
to Georgia small businesses suffering substantial economic SBA customer service representatives will be available Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster
injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Ad- to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster assistance information and download applications at https://
ministrator Jovita Carranza announced March 18. SBA act- Loan program and explain the application process. disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s
ed under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus “Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any Customer Service Center at 800.659-.2955 or email disas-
Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture tercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA
Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a di- enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hardofhear-
saster following a request received from Gov. Brian P. Kemp result of the Coronavirus since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for ing may call 800.877.8339. Completed applications should
on March 17. Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Pro-
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available meet financial obligations and operating expenses which cessing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road,
in the entire state of Georgia; and the contiguous counties of could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” said Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Barbour, Chambers, Cherokee, Cleburne, De Kalb, Henry, Carranza. The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster
Houston, Jackson, Lee, Randolph, and Russell in Alabama; “These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, ac- Loan is Dec. 18, 2020.
Baker, Columbia, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, counts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the For more information about Coronavirus, please visit:
Leon, Madison, and Nassau in Florida; Cherokee, Clay, disaster’s impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic Coronavirus.gov.
Jackson, and Macon in North Carolina; Abbeville, Aiken, assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary For more information about available SBA resources and
Allendale, Anderson, Barnwell, Edgefield, Hampton, Jasper, loss of revenue they are experiencing,” Carranza added. services, please visit: SBA.gov/coronavirus.

La SBA ofrece asistencia en caso de desastre a las pequeñas empresas de Georgia afectadas económicamente por el Coronavirus (COVID-19)
ATLANTA – La Agencia Federal para el Desarrollo de Los representantes de servicio al cliente de SBA estarán La elegibilidad para los Préstamos para Daños Económi-
la Pequeña Empresa (SBA) por sus siglas en inglés, ofrece disponibles para responder preguntas sobre el programa de cos por Desastre se basa en el impacto financiero la enfer-
préstamos federales de bajo interés para capital de trabajo préstamos para desastres por daños económicos de SBA y medad del coronavirus (COVID-19).
a las pequeñas empresas de Georgia que sufren un daño explicar el proceso de solicitud. Los solicitantes pueden presentar su solicitud en línea,
económico sustancial como resultado de la enfermedad del “Las pequeñas empresas, las organizaciones privadas recibir información adicional sobre asistencia en casos de
coronavirus (COVID-19), anunció hoy la administradora de sin fines de lucro de cualquier tamaño, las pequeñas cooper- desastre y descargar las solicitudes en https://disasterloan.
SBA, Jovita Carranza. SBA actuó bajo su propia autoridad, ativas agrícolas y las pequeñas empresas de acuicultura que sba.gov/ela. Los solicitantes también pueden llamar al Cen-
según lo dispuesto por la Ley de Asignaciones Suplementar- han sido afectadas financieramente como resultado directo tro de Servicio al Cliente de SBA al 800.659.2955 o enviar
ias para la Preparación y Respuesta ante el Coronavirus que de la enfermedad del coronavirus (COVID-19) desde el 31 un correo electrónico a disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
fue firmada recientemente por el Presidente, para declarar de enero de 2020, pueden calificar para recibir préstamos para obtener más información sobre la asistencia para de-
un desastre a raíz de una solicitud recibida del Gobernador para desastres por daños económicos de hasta 2 millones sastres de SBA. Las personas sordas o con problemas de
Brian Kemp el 18 de marzo de 2020. de dólares para ayudar a cumplir con las obligaciones fi- audición pueden llamar al 800.877.8339. Las solicitudes
La declaración de desastre hace que la asistencia de SBA nancieras y los gastos de funcionamiento que podrían haber completas deben enviarse por correo a la Administración
esté disponible en todo el estado de Georgia; y en los conda- sido satisfechos si el desastre no hubiera ocurrido”, dijo de Pequeñas Empresas de los Estados Unidos, Centro de
dos contiguos de Barbour, Chambers, Cherokee, Cleburne, Carranza. Procesamiento y Desembolso, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort
DeKalb, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Lee, Randolph y Rus- “Estos préstamos pueden ser usados para pagar deu- Worth, TX 76155.
sell en Alabama; y Baker, Columbia, Gadsden, Hamilton, das fijas, nómina, cuentas por pagar y otras cuentas que La fecha límite para solicitar un Préstamo para Daños
Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Madison y Nassau en Florida; y no pueden ser pagadas debido al impacto del desastre. Los Económicos por Desastre es el 18 de diciembre de 2020.
Cherokee, Clay, Jackson y Macon en North Carolina; Ab- préstamos para desastres pueden proporcionar una ayuda Para más información sobre el Coronavirus, por favor
beville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Barnwell, Edgefield, económica vital a las pequeñas empresas para ayudar a visite: Coronavirus.gov.
Hampton, Jasper, McCormick y Oconee en South Carolina; superar la pérdida temporal de ingresos que están experi- Para más información sobre los recursos y servicios di-
y Bradley, Hamilton, Marion y Polk en Tennessee. mentando”, añadió Carranza. sponibles de SBA, por favor visite: SBA.gov/coronavirus.

DNR offers grant money to rehabilitate historic structures damaged by Hurricane Irma

ATLANTA – A grant application package for the Hurricane rectly related to work items in the scope of work and budget opment grant projects; compliance with applicable federal
Irma Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund which must be approved by the HPD and NPS. and state laws, regulations, and standards, including meeting
subgrant program, administered by the Historic Preservation Owners of historic buildings, structures, and objects in federal procurement requirements; and signing a funding
Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, is Georgia counties designated for general public assistance agreement.
now available on HPD’s website at https://georgiashpo.org/ and individual assistance by the Federal Emergency Man- If the property is not listed, but is eligible to be listed,
disaster-recovery-grants. This subgrant program has been agement Agency for Hurricane Irma are eligible to apply. please contract grants coordinator Melanie Holthaus at Mel-
made available through the award of a Hurricane Harvey, The following counties were not designated for general or anie.Holthaus@dnr.ga.gov before submitting an application.
Irma, and Maria Emergency Supplemental Historic Preser- public assistance by FEMA for Hurricane Irma and there- All grant applications will be evaluated and awarded
vation Fund grant (HIM ESHPF grant, CFDA No. 15.957) fore historic resources located in these counties are ineligi- based on information provided in the application, scoring
from the National Park Service to the Historic Preservation ble for assistance: Bartow, Bleckley, Carroll, Catoosa, Chat- criteria, funding availability, and reviews by the HPD staff
Division. tooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Dade, Douglas, and the NPS. If you apply for more than one project (i.e. a
The purpose of the HIM ESHPF subgrant program is to Dekalb, Fannin, Fulton, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Paulding, predevelopment AND development project), you must com-
assist Georgia historic property owners with recovery from Polk, Richmond, Walker and Whitefield plete a separate application for each one.
Hurricane Irma by addressing historic property needs unmet For the purpose of this grant program, only predevelop- Applications must be postmarked on or before May 15,
through other funding sources (FEMA, GEMA, insurance, ment and development projects will be considered. Essential 2020. Grant awards are expected to be announced in July
etc.). The HPD may award up to $400,000 to private, public criteria for a qualified grant application include demonstrat- 2020. Projects may begin as early as August 2020 upon
and nonprofit historic property owners, and we encourage all ing the property is listed in the National Register of Historic HPD and NPS approval and must be completed by Decem-
interested in this grant to apply. Places; demonstrating property damage was caused or wors- ber 2021. If you have questions about the grant program or
This is a reimbursement grant, and project cost reim- ened by Hurricane Irma; placing a preservation easement of the application process, please don’t hesitate to contact Mel-
bursements are based on invoices and receipts that are di- up to 20 years on the property deed of all awarded devel- anie Holthaus at melanie.holthaus@dnr.ga.gov.