USDA Allocates $60 Million for Meat Processing Expansion in 2 Grant Competitions
Updated
Updated · AGInfo Ag Information Network · Jun 30
USDA Allocates $60 Million for Meat Processing Expansion in 2 Grant Competitions
2 articles · Updated · AGInfo Ag Information Network · Jun 30
Summary
$60 million in Phase Four funding will be split evenly between two USDA competitions, with $30 million each for very small and small processors and for intermediate processors.
Expansion-project awards will range from $50,000 to $2 million and can fund equipment purchases above $250,000 plus facility upgrades needed to install that equipment; applicants must provide a 50% match.
Simplified equipment-only grants will range from $10,000 to $250,000 for purchases without renovation, labor, installation or certification costs, with a lower 25% match requirement.
USDA said the grants are meant to expand and diversify meat and poultry processing capacity—especially beef—while boosting competition and supply-chain resilience after capacity strains and major plant closures.