Pennsylvania’s Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant Program Opens

• By: admin
• On: 07/29/2022 11:31:01
• In: Industry News

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has announced that its Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant Program is now open. The Program's objective is to support the development and expansion of current or future very small meat and poultry processing operations in the Commonwealth by offering reimbursement grants to cover the cost associated with obtaining a grant of inspection from USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), opening a new very small meat and poultry processing operation, expanding the capacity of a current very small meat and poultry processing operation, or a combination of those purposes.

The following costs are eligible for reimbursement:

1. Consulting or other technical support services that directly support the development and maintenance of programs required to operate under a grant of inspection.
2. Professional employee training and educational services and programs that support the development and maintenance of programs to operate under a grant of inspection.  If a professional consultant is utilized, reasonable costs may be reimbursed, as determined by the department.
3. Up to 85% of the purchase of meat or poultry slaughter or processing equipment or supplies. This does not include reimbursement of the costs of planning, erecting, repair or modification of a structure or building or repair of installation of roofing or other physical structure improvements.
4. The purchase of equipment or supplies directly related to employee safety.

An applicant for a grant under this Program must submit an application through the Commonwealth's Single Application for Assistance online application system at www.esa.dced.state.pa.us. Applications must be submitted through the Single Application for Assistance online application system between 8 a.m. on July 25, 2022, and 5 p.m. on September 26, 2022. Applications received outside of that application window will not be considered or reviewed.

For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Funding/Farmbill/Pages/Very-Small-Meat-Processor-Grant.aspx