Resources / Project Profiles

Florida Citrus Recovery Block Grant

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Table of Contents Challenge Overview Our Area of Impact Contact Us
Client Type

Government

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Jared Davis Jared Davis Vice President, Operations
Client Type

Government

Contact Us
Jared Davis Jared Davis Vice President, Operations

Summary

The Florida Citrus Recovery Block Grant Program (CRBG) was available to citrus producers who maintained an active citrus farming operation but suffered citrus crop damage due to Hurricane Irma in 2017. This program was developed by the USDA Farm Service Agency, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The State of Florida contracted with YA Group to assist with developing and administering the grant procedures, as well as distributing the CRBG grant funds to eligible citrus producers.

  • 1,170 applicants
  • 980 citrus producers deemed eligible and received at least 1 payment
  • 1,857 grove visits completed
  • 4,752 payments reviewed, processed, and made to eligible producers totaling $325k+

Challenge Overview

Hurricane Irma caused widespread damage across the state, including $760 million in damages to the Florida Citrus industry. It is estimated that 30-70 percent of trees had fruit on the ground after the storm. Flooding also caused root damage to the citrus trees and several trees were uprooted. The majority of Florida citrus production continues to be impacted by hurricanes, causing devastating losses to the industry.

Our Area of Impact

Florida was approved for a first of its kind program, the Citrus Recovery Block Grant program, by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). YA Group contracted with the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management to assist with the application and payment process for the Block Grant. YA Group was the primary point of contact between FDEM and the citrus producers throughout the lifecycle of the grant.

YA Group conducted workshops in impacted areas, in-person meetings, and site visits and helped streamline the application and payment process by communicating with landowners on a regular basis to ensure complete and accurate documentation was submitted timely. YA Group assisted with processing 4,752 payments totaling $325k+ delivered to eligible producers.