12/12/2023
Georgia farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners invited to attend technical assistance workshops for USDA's Discrimination Financial Assistance Program
Application deadline is Jan. 13, 2024
FORT VALLEY, Ga. (Dec. 7, 2023) – As part of ongoing outreach efforts to help
farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), Windsor Group LLC will host technical assistance
workshops geared toward Georgia farmers throughout December.
Authorized by Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Discrimination Financial
Assistance Program (DFAP) makes available $2.2 billion to producers who experienced
discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to Jan. 1, 2021. These events will
offer guidance on how to apply and how to access the support.
“These in-person events are intended to help raise awareness about the Discrimination
Financial Assistance Program and give eligible farmers and ranchers access to
personalized assistance, free of charge,” said Myles B. Caggins III, Eastern Region
spokesman for the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program and Windsor Group
LLC. “Similar events are taking place to reach farmers and ranchers across the country,
hosted by field representatives who are trained and ready to support a friendly and
transparent application process.”
Event details are as follows:
Technical Assistance Workshop
Dates: Dec. 7, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: New Hope AME Church, 11960 Hwy 171 North, Louisville, Georgia
30434
DFAP Application Support Assistance with Southern Sky Center
Date & Time: Dec. 7, 2023 (9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)
Dec. 14, 2023 (9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)
Dec. 21, 2023 (8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.)
Location: HH Woolard Community Center, 709 W. Wallace Street, Sylvester,
Georgia 31791
Technical Assistance Workshop
Date: Dec. 9, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Walmart, 2801 Airport Thruway, Columbus, Georgia 31909
Technical Assistance Workshop
Date: Dec. 12, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Macedonia Baptist Church, 702 Arnold McKinney Drive, Waycross,
Georgia 31501
Technical Assistance Workshop with AG Connection
Date: Dec. 14, 2023
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Little Cooper Primary School 105-1-D Augus ta Street N.E., Daws on,
Georgia 39842
Technical Assistance Workshop with AG Connection
Date: Dec. 21, 2023
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Ag Connection Cooperative Office, 1051 Augus ta Street, Daws on,
Georgia 39842
Technical Assistance Workshop
Date: Dec. 21, 2023 | Dec. 27, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: St. Peter AME Church, 502 State University Drive, Fort Valley, Georgia
31030
Technical Assistance Workshop
Date: Dec. 28, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Mt. Olive AME Church, 527 W. 7th Street, Waynesboro, Georgia 30830
USDA announced the opening of the DFAP application process on Jul. 7, 2023. The
deadline to apply for the program is Jan. 13, 2024.
Every week, the DFAP team hosts a number of in-person and virtual events, in English
and Spanish, that can be attended live and in some cases are recorded. To find an
event that best fits your availability and needs, see the latest program event list here.
Producers have the option to file applications online at 22007apply.gov, by mail, or by
turning in applications at nearby brick-and-mortar offices. For more information about
the DFAP, please visit 22007apply.gov.
The program also offers a call center, 1-800-721-0970, which is open from 8 a.m. ET to
8 p.m. PT, seven days a week except for Federal holidays. The call center has English
and Spanish-speaking agents.
The program website offers an English- and Spanish-language application that can be
downloaded or submitted electronically via an e-filing portal. Additionally, the site
provides comprehensive information on obtaining in-person or virtual technical
assistance, supplementary program resources, and detailed program guidelines.
To implement the DFAP application process, USDA selected Windsor Group LLC to
provide technical assistance and outreach in the eastern United States, in collaboration
with community-based organizations. Other organizations are responsible for outreach
in the western United States. More information about the program, including the
organizations responsible for administration and outreach, can be found at
22007apply.gov.
Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides financial assistance for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination by USDA in USDA’s farm lending prior to 2021
