Emergency Processing Fund worth $77.5 million

The federal government is putting up millions in an Emergency Processing Fund.

It's part of an action plan to support business facing hardship as a result of COVID-19, including those involved in Canada's food system.

The fund is worth $77.5 million.

Some of the issues for food producers, processors, and manufacturers include the exceptional activities associated with risk mitigation measures to be able to maintain Canada's food production.

The program will prioritize projects based on two objectives:

• Emergency COVID Response to assist companies to implement changes required by COVID-19 to ensure the health and safety of workers. The funding will help with plant retrofits or adjustments to existing operations to accommodate changes to processes and production; and increasing capacity for herd management.
• Strategic Investments to assist companies to improve, automate, and modernize facilities needed to increase Canada's food supply capacity.

Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations, cooperatives and indigenous groups.

Activities can be retroactive to March 15 and completed by September 30.