Apparel manufacturers are eligible for $50 million in pandemic relief funding that will indirectly help cotton and wool producers, said the Agriculture Department on Thursday. The USDA said the new Cotton and Wool Apparel program would mitigate the downturn in sales of dress apparel during the pandemic.
“While many manufacturers of these products shifted to the production of personal protective equipment, the industry has nevertheless struggled to recover from a persistent and significant decline in sales,” said Zach Ducheneaux, administrator of the Farm Service Agency. “The relief announced today will help keep these manufacturers in business, which will ultimately support American workers and the domestic Pima cotton growers and wool producers who rely on this industry.”
Targeted for aid were manufacturers of worsted wool suits, sport coats, pants, or Pima cotton dress shirts; spinners of Pima cotton; and wool fabric manufacturers and spinners. To qualify for assistance, companies must show a decrease of 15 percent or more in gross sales or consumption during 2020. In addition, the companies must have filed for a payment in any year from 2017-21 from the Pima Agriculture Cotton Trust Fund or the Agriculture Wool Apparel Manufacturers Trust Fund. Both funds are run by the USDA.