Grant Information

 

 

Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program Phase 2 (valid through November 22, 2023)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Acting Under Secretary Roger Glendenning today announced that USDA is making more funding available for meat and poultry processors to expand operations, transform the food supply chain and create new and better markets for producers.

This funding advances President Biden’s commitment to grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out by creating good-paying jobs and opportunities in every community.

“The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are committed to transforming our food system to one that creates new markets for our small and mid-sized farming and ranching operations while protecting opportunity in our rural communities for generations to come,” Glendenning said. “The funding we’re making available today to meat and poultry processors will not only give producers more options, but also create good paying jobs and build greater resilience in our overall food system.”

USDA is partnering with the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund to make available $123 million in grants through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program. The program is part of a series of actions the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to promote a fairer, more competitive and more resilient meat and poultry supply chain.

The grants will help independent businesses build and modernize processing facilities and equipment, adopt new technologies and train workers, among other activities.

Eligible projects may receive grants from $250,000 up to $10 million. Successful applicants must be able to cover 70% of their total project cost.

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Nov. 22, 2023. To reach the grant directly, go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html. The grant you want is Opportunity Number RD-RBS-23-02-MPPEP, and the title is Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 2.

Background: Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program
The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program provides grants to help eligible independent processors to expand their capacity. USDA Rural Development designed the program to encourage competition and sustainable growth in the U.S. meat processing sector and to help improve supply chain resiliency.

USDA already has awarded more than $200 million to independent businesses under the program. These projects have created thousands of jobs across the country. Learn more about USDA’s investments to strengthen the meat and poultry supply chain at usda.gov/meat.
 

---

MPPEP2 - What to Know

The MPPEP2 grants will be available to companies that slaughter animals or are expanding their further processing operations in order to increase their slaughter capacity. Companies that only do further processing are not eligible for these grants, nor are any of the “Big 4” processors – the processors who take up the four largest shares of the beef, pork, chicken or other protein sectors. Additionally, any processors that source more than 20% of its input or provide more than 20% of its output to a “Big 4” entity, are also not eligible. Custom exempt establishments are not eligible unless they are in the process of attaining a federal grant of inspection, a state equivalent, or the Cooperative Interstate Shipping Program.

The minimum award in the MPPEP2 grants will be $250,000, and the maximum award will be 30% of the total project cost, up to $10 million. There are several differences between these grants and Phase 1 of the MPPEP program, such as:

• The total cost share of a project increases from 20% to 30%, while the maximum grant awarded changes from $25 million to $20 million. The stated goal of the program is to contribute to more, but smaller, projects.
• MPPEP1 required a feasibility study for each application. MPPEP2 grants do not require such a study, except for businesses that have been in operation for less than one year, businesses that are building facilities outside of their current market, or applicants proposing to process new species or establish a new product line.
• The application will have a template that applicants can use to develop their proposal. The application for MPPEP1 was open-ended, and some applicants felt the process was too confusing or overwhelming.

If you received funding via MPPEP Phase 1, Local MCAP or IAG, you will not be eligible for MPPEP2. If you submitted a Local MCAP application and have not heard back, you may submit an application for this grant as well. However, if you are awarded Local MCAP grant money, you will have to withdraw your MPPEP2 application.

For more information, visit https://rd.usda.gov/mppep. Information available on that page includes an application template, program resources, non-USDA contacts for technical information and notices for future webinar events as they are announced.

---

MPPTP2 Webinars

USDA Rural Development is hosting a live webinar on Wednesday, September 13 at 3PM Eastern Time. Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program Phase II (MPPEP II) applicants are encouraged to attend. The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) provides grants to help eligible processors expand their processing capacity, which create new, better and more processing options for meat and poultry producers. USDA Rural Development designed the MPPEP to encourage competition and sustainable growth in the U.S. meat processing sector, and to help improve supply chain resiliency.
Click here to register


PAST WEBINARS
MPPEP Phase II Grant Applicant Webinar (September 6, 2023) Hosted by Flower Hill Institute
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Office announced $123 million in competitive grant funding to help eligible processors expand their processing capacity. This webinar discussed the application and eligibility requirements for applicants.
Watch the recording

SAM.Gov and Other Requirements for MPPEP II Webinar (September 8, 2023) Hosted by Flower Hill Institute
Submitting a request for USDA funding requires pre-registration on SAM.Gov and Grants.gov, as well as a number of other requirements. This webinar walked applicants through how to meet all the pre-application requirements such as securing a SAM.gov registration, Grants.gov registration, how to secure the required Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Commercial And Government Entity (CAGE) Code number, etc.
Watch the recording