The application period for this program closed Jan. 17, 2024; applications are no longer being accepted, and those already submitted are under review. Click here to see archived website information that was shared to help with applications.
Program Overview
To implement Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP or “the Program”) will provide financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending prior to January 1, 2021.
About the Application and Review Process
The application period for this program closed on Jan. 17, 2024, and applications are now being reviewed.
Applying for this program was free, and free help with the application was made available through many channels. The application included step-by-step directions and a list of documents either required or recommended at each step. Visit the archived How Do I Apply page for more information.
Submission
The application period ended January 17, 2024. If your application was submitted late, it will not be reviewed, and you will not receive financial assistance.
Processing
The review process is based on USDA-approved guidance and includes two independent reviews by program administrators. This chart provides an overview of how applications are processed and reviewed once received.
Decisions
Decisions will be made for all applications at the same time, several months after the close of the application period. You will be notified of the status of your application once determinations are made.
Disbursements
Payments for approved applications will be delivered by check through the U.S. mail shortly after decisions are made, targeted for summer 2024.
Program Administration
Several entities are involved in the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, with varying roles and responsibilities. The National Administrator and Regional Hubs are under contract to conduct outreach, assist with the financial assistance application process, process applications, manage program call centers, and operate Regionally based offices. Additional outreach and application support was provided by trusted community groups.
National Administrator: The Midtown Group
The National Administrator oversees the program. This includes:
- Setting up and managing the program website and national call center.
- Developing the program application with guidance from USDA.
- Coordinating work that is shared between the National Administrator and the Regional Hubs.
- Reviewing individual applications, making determinations of eligibility and evaluating the application against USDA-approved standards, using corroborating data from the USDA where available.
- Ensuring agricultural expertise is incorporated into the review process.
- Arranging for appropriate audits and systems to detect and deter fraud.
- Making decisions on individual applications, subject to oversight by USDA.
- Distributing the financial assistance after approval by USDA.
Regional Hubs: Analytic Acquisitions (west of the Mississippi River) and Windsor Group LLC (east of the Mississippi River)
Regional Hubs provide support to applicants within regions.
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Past work, during the application period (which has now ended) included:
- Setting up and staffing local offices and mobile outreach teams.
- Marketing the availability of the program to raise awareness and inform potential applicants of services available.
- Providing technical assistance in-person, online, and by phone, including region-specific support through the call center.
- Coordinating with USDA’s community-group cooperators.
- Receiving applications by mail and in-person drop off.
- Ongoing work, after conclusion of the application period, includes:
- Digitizing all non-digital applications and supporting documents submitted.
- Pursuing supplementary information from applicants when applicant omissions make payment impossible (e.g., insufficient proof of identity or social security number, missing signature).
Community Groups: Cooperators
During the application period, community groups or “cooperators” provided outreach and technical assistance under cooperative agreements with USDA. This included:
- Sharing information with members.
- Hosting in-person and virtual events.
- Providing trainings on how to complete applications.
- Assisting producers with completing applications.
- Coordinating with regional hubs and USDA to offer insights on best practices for reaching key audiences, as well as providing other support and partnership for outreach efforts.
Now that the application period has ended, cooperators continue to:
- Share program information with members.
- Assist USDA’s engagement with communities as applications are reviewed and awards are made.
USDA: More Information
As the statute requires, nongovernmental program administrators are administering this financial assistance program. USDA supports this work by:
- Establishing program guidance, including how applications are evaluated and awards are calculated.
- Setting program timelines and deadlines.
- Providing oversight of the program and cooperative agreements.
- Selecting cooperators and establishing contracts with third-party vendors.
- Providing appropriate USDA data to the National Administrator and Regional Hubs.
- Facilitating collaboration among all entities involved to maximize engagement with the farming and ranching communities.
For additional information, visit the USDA website or read the 22007 statute.