USDA Rural Development announced the availability of $123 million in grant funding for meat processors through Phase 2 of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program—aka MPPEP II.
This program’s goal is to expand capacity for small- to medium-sized meat processors—so more animals can be processed more quickly, closer to where they were raised. If you currently harvest livestock under USDA or state inspection, or if you plan to, this grant program could be your ticket to accessing funding.
Below are some highlights drawn from USDA, including the MPPEP II Request for Application (RFA):
TIMELINE
- Released August 23, 2023 by USDA Rural Development
- Application Submission Deadline: November 22, 2023
HIGHLIGHTS
- Minimum Award Amount: $250,000
- Maximum Award Amount: $10,000,000
- Applicant’s Required Match: 70%
- USDA may reimburse up to 30% of a project
- Applicants will need to demonstrate an ability to fund the remaining 70%
- Project Completion Deadline: 4 years
ELIGIBILITY
- Engaged in commercial slaughter or commercial slaughter & processing
- Operating or planning to operate under USDA or state inspection
- You may apply for MPPEP II even if you applied for the USDA’s Local Meat Capacity or Indigenous Animals Grants, but you will only be allowed to accept one grant award—no double dipping
ALLOWABLE USES OF MPPEP II GRANT FUNDING
- Facilities: Building, Updating, Expanding, or Modifying
- Equipment & Technology
- Upgrading Your Facility’s Inspection Status
- Safety Equipment & Training
- Labeling & Packaging Compliance
- Staffing/Operating Costs
- Employee Recruitment, Training & Retention
- Note: All funded items must increase your facility’s slaughter capacity
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Bear Mountain Beef butchers lower a knocked sheep onto a skinning cradle using a cable winch from their Friesla Mobile Meat Harvest Unit. -
A meat processor transfers half of a beef carcass into the Drip Cooler of a Friesla Mobile Meat Harvest Unit. -
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Butchers at MTXBeef moving a carcass along the meat rail after skinning in a Modular Harvest Unit. -
Carcass Aging Cooler: Chilled carcasses are moved here for extended dry aging and staging prior to breakdown. -
Beef carcasses hang in the Modular Carcass Aging Cooler at MTXBeef. -
Cut & Wrap Module: Outfitted with all of the processing equipment needed for carcass breakdown, cutting/fabrication, and packaging under USDA inspection. -
Bear Mountain Beef butchers break, fabricate, and package beef inside their Friesla Cut & Wrap Module. -
Bear Mountain Beef butchers fabricate beef carcasses on polytop cutting tables in their Friesla Cut & Wrap Module. -
Finished Goods Freezer: Packaged meat is chilled to freezing temperatures by a self-contained refrigeration cooling system. -
Packaged meat is chilled to freezing temperatures by a self-contained refrigeration cooling system in The Producer Partnership’s Friesla Modular Finished Goods Freezer. -
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MTXBeef butcher performing HACCP checks inside the Friesla Modular Meat Processing System.
QUALIFYING FRIESLA SYSTEMS, EQUIPMENT & SERVICES
- Mobile Harvest Units—known by USDA as Mobile Slaughter Units
- Mobile Harvest & Processing Units
- Meat Harvest Modules
- Carcass Aging Coolers
- Cut and Wrap Modules
- Finished Goods Freezers
- USDA HACCP Plans & Training
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLYING
- Slaughter is required; further processing is optional
- Must demonstrate that your project increases capacity for slaughter
- Some applicants may be required to submit a feasibility study as part of their application. See Section 4.2.3 of the RFA for details about when a feasibility study is required.
- Must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
- Must have a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
- Must be registered in SAM.gov (System for Award Management)—see Flower Hill Institute’s webinar for more info
- For more detailed info, watch Flower Hill Institute’s MPPEP Phase II Grant Program Applicant Webinar below:
FREE GRANT SUPPORT FOR MEAT PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS
- USDA’s Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity—Technical Assistance (MPPTA) Program helps meat producers and processors with navigating federal grants, business planning, feasibility studies, and more. This free support can be accessed via USDA’s Technical Assistance providers. They range from Flower Hill Institute to the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (NMPAN).
- As the MPPTA Coordinator, Flower Hill Institute has a contract with USDA to help processors locate technical assistance for feasibility studies and grant writing. To schedule a no-cost initial consultation with Flower Hill, complete their Technical Assistance Request Form.
- Even if you don’t plan to work with Flower Hill Institute, it may be helpful to register with them to stay up-to-date on grant opportunities and informational webinars.