Application - OPEN | Program Application Period - August 24, 2023 — November 22, 2023
On Thursday, August 24, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $123 million in federal grant funding through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program — Phase II (MPPEP II) for meat and poultry processors.
Businesses and individuals interested in applying can access no-cost technical assistance to navigate the grant preparation process through the Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance (MPPTA) program established by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
For more information regarding the MPPTA program and technical assistance, please visit the official Flower Hill Institute webpage at www.flowerhill.institute/usda-mppta.
Program Overview
The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program — Phase II (MPPEP II) 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.
How can funds be used?
Grant funds can be used for expenses during the period of performance of the grant award to expand processing capacity by supporting activities such as:
Building, modernizing, or expanding existing – processing facilities, including mobile slaughter units
Developing, installing, or modernizing equipment and technology
Ensuring compliance with packaging and labeling requirements
Upholding occupational and other safety requirements
Modifying facilities or equipment to protect food safety
Offsetting cost associated with becoming an inspected facility
Staffing or operational costs specifically tied to the proposed project
Supporting workforce recruitment, training, and retention
Posting USDA’s standard infrastructure investment signage during construction of the project
Eligible Applicants
Entities that engage or plan to engage in meat and poultry processing, including private, non-profit, tribal, cooperative, state or local government, among other entities. Private entities must be independently owned and operated. All entities must be domestically owned, and their meat and poultry processing facilities must be physically located and operated within the U.S. or its territories.
Eligible applicants must:
Process – or plan to process – one or more species subject to the Federal Meat Inspection Act, or the Poultry Product Inspection Act. Additionally, if the applicant engages or proposes to engage in further processing they must include the products of slaughter from their own facility.
Have – or plan to get – a Federal Grant of Inspection through USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, a Grant of Inspection under the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program, or a federal or state-based meat and poultry inspection program equivalent.
Comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and all other applicable state, local or Tribal laws.
How To Apply
Closely review the Request for Applications (RFA): www.grants.gov/
All applicant entities must have a current and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to file an MPPEP application. Please reference Section 4.6 of the MPPEP RFA for registration instructions.
Additional resources to help you with completing an application include.
Visit the Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance (MPPTA) webpage to learn more about Technical Assistance available to MPPEP grant applicants and grant-funded projects.
All applicant entities must have a current and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to file an MPPEP application. Please reference Section 4.6 of the MPPEP RFA for registration instructions.
All MPPEP applications must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on November 22, 2023, through www.Grants.gov.
*Applications submitted after this deadline or filed in any other manner will not be considered for evaluation or funding.
For more information on grant eligibility and how to apply, please visit the official grant webpage for additional information on MPPEP Phase II at www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/meat-and-poultry-processing-expansion-program.
Want to request technical assistance?
As the lead technical assistance coordinator for the USDA—Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance (MPPTA) Program, Flower Hill Institute (FHI) can match you with resources and network cooperators to guide you through the application process and post-award management.
To request technical assistance or for more information about the MPPTA program, visit the FHI website using the button below.
Link Up with MPPTA
Scan or click the QR code for more links to our FHI website, the MPPTA inquiry form and technical assistance network for your next federal grant application.
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Please note: The Meat and Poultry Processing Technical Assistance (MPPTA) Program is funded through a cooperative agreement with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. The MPPTA Project Coordinators do not offer or provide direct contractor services or financial capital, grant writing, or project management services, nor does the voluntary use of MPPTA guarantee the success of a grant application or the grant-funded project.