USDA recently announced the creation of two new grant funding opportunities totaling $55.2 million for small, regional and independent meat processors. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) said the funds were secured by the group in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
The funding will be available through the newly established Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant program. The funds will support small processors making improvements to achieve a federal grant of inspection or to operate under their state’s Cooperative Interstate Shipment program.
“This grant money will help ensure that we’re not just making big plants bigger, but actually expanding capacity in those smaller, independent facilities that our producers need as well,” said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane.
Applications for funding can be submitted at www.grants.gov by searching for keyword “MPIRG” by Aug. 2.
