NCDA&CS is pleased to announce the H2A Farmworker Quarantine Reimbursement Program.  Employers who have farm workers with valid H2A visas can soon apply for assistance through the NCDA&CS COVID-19 Farm Worker Quarantine Reimbursement program. A total of $2 million will be available through this program.  The N.C. General Assembly approved the funding for this aid program, which comes from federal COVID-19 funds earmarked for North Carolina.

The application period will open on April 16 and will continue through December 15, 2021 or when program funds are exhausted.  For the purposes of this program, employers who have farm workers with valid H2A visas will be eligible for reimbursement of the cost of meals and lodging for the duration of the quarantine period, not to exceed the per diem rates for federal employees. The employer on record for the farm worker with a valid H2A visa may submit reimbursement requests on behalf of any farm worker requiring to be quarantined following a positive test for COVID-19, provided the employer covered the initial eligible expenses out-of-pocket on behalf of the farm worker.

The program will be for expenses incurred from March 11, 2021 through the 2021 growing season.

Further details and links to the application documents can be found at http://www.ncagr.gov/QuarantineReimbursementProgram.htm.