Title VI Requirements

As a recipient of federal financial assistance, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is required to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI prohibits discrimination based upon race, color, and national origin. Specifically, 42 U.S.C. 2000d et. seq. states:

No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Several federal agencies provide federal financial assistance in the form of grants, training, and technical assistance to TDA. TDA, in turn, operates programs and delivers benefits and services to individuals known as ultimate beneficiaries to achieve the goals of the federal legislation under which financial assistance was extended. TDA may pass federal financial assistance on to various entities known has subrecipients to operate programs and deliver benefits and services to ultimate beneficiaries.

Subrecipients who receive federal financial assistance through TDA are required to comply with applicable nondiscrimination laws and regulations. Subrecipients may include individuals, cities, counties, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and contractors.

TDA manages subrecipient compliance through Title VI training and a Title VI compliance survey that must be completed on an annual basis. Title VI training and the Title VI compliance survey can both be completed online here, Title VI Training Certification and Compliance Survey. In order to receive credit for having completed Title VI training, individuals or Title VI Coordinators must review all slides, click the link found at the end of the training, and submit the compliance survey. A certificate of completion will be sent to the provided email address upon submission.

Please contact TDA's Title VI Coordinator with any questions you may have about Title VI compliance.
Emily King | Assistant Counsel
Emily.King@tn.gov
615-837-5331