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USDA/GDA announce Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program funds for Georgia

The State of Georgia will receive about $531,236,000 in federal funds for the Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program to help farmers and timber producers recover, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper announced today in a joint statement. The block grant, which is funded through the American Relief Act of 2025 that Congress passed last December and was signed into law Dec. 21, 2024, will cover future economic losses, infrastructure losses, and timber losses caused by Hurricane Helene. The announcement comes just days after the one-year anniversary of the historic storm estimated to have caused $5.5 billion in damage to Georgia's agriculture and timber sectors.

“I am incredibly proud to announce the State of Georgia will receive $531,236,000 in federal funding to provide much-needed relief to impacted farmers and producers through Georgia’s Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “This funding is absolutely essential to help our farm families bounce back from Hurricane Helene, and our team invested hundreds of hours into the negotiation process to secure the maximum possible amount of federal funding for our state and our producers. I want to thank Sec. Brooke Rollins and her team at USDA FSA for understanding the urgency of the situation and their strong partnership and collaboration throughout this process, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Trump Administration to deliver real results for Georgia farmers.”

The State of Georgia continues to work with the USDA to finalize administrative details in the state’s block grant agreement and corresponding work plan. More details about the program and how to apply will be forthcoming.

“Farmers and ranchers in Georgia have been hit hard and suffered significant economic losses during 2024. USDA is working closely with the State of Georgia to ensure those impacted have the relief they need,” said USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. “The Trump Administration has our farmers' backs and will ensure they have the resources they need to continue to produce the safest, most reliable, and most abundant food supply in the world.” 

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