Grants Available to Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Options
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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on February 24 that the USDA is making available up to $215 million in grants and other support to expand meat and poultry processing options. The purpose of these grants is twofold: to strengthen the food supply chain and to create jobs and economic opportunities in rural areas.
“Today’s funding announcement, which includes the expansion of meat and poultry processing options, provides more opportunities for Montana’s agricultural businesses to keep resources, money, and our supply chain local,” said USDA Rural Development Montana’s State Director, Kathleen Williams. “Montana’s farmers and ranchers have worked hard for generations to deliver food produced closer to home. These new initiatives are meant to keep jobs intact and encourage further economic opportunities in the communities where we live and operate.”
USDA Rural Development will make $150 million available in grants to fund startup and expansion activities in the meat and poultry processing sector. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture will provide another $40 million for workforce development and training, and the Agricultural Marketing Service will provide $25 million to offer technical assistance to grant applicants and others seeking resources related to meat and poultry processing.
According to information released by Sue Kerver, Public Information Officer with the Montana State Office, Rural Development, USDA Rural Development is making $150 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding available through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP). USDA encourages applications that benefit smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, tribes and tribal producers, socially disadvantaged producers, military veteran producers, and underserved communities.
All application materials can be found at http://www.rd.usda.gov/mppep or at http://www.Grants.gov. Applications must be received by 9:59 p.m. Mountain Time on April 11, 2022, through http://www.Grants.gov.
For additional information, applicants and other interested parties are encouraged to visit the MPPEP website: http://www.rd.usda.gov/mppep. Questions may be submitted through the website or sent to MPPEP@usda.gov. They may also be directed to Kerver by emailing Suzanne.Kerver@usda.gov or calling 406-585-2587.
USDA Rural Development is an investor, ally, and advocate for rural America and provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for Americans living and working in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas.
