Request for Proposals for Meat Processing Infrastructure Program in New Hampshire

The Meat Processing Infrastructure Program provides funding for infrastructure investments for local farmers and meat and poultry processing facilities to increase capacity and efficiencies of the meat and poultry processing industry within the state.

Donor Name: New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food

State: New Hampshire

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 01/27/2023

Size of the Grant: $200,000

Details:

The Meat Processing Infrastructure Program (MPIP) is administered by the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food (DAMF).

The goal of the grant program is to alleviate impacts of COVID-19 on the local meat and poultry processing industry by supporting increased capacity, labor saving efficiencies, and encouraging value-added products through capital investments and other related infrastructure improvements.

Funding Information

MPIP will award up to $750,000 through a competitive review process. The maximum award will be $200,000 and the minimum award will be $1,000. There will be one round of funding.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:
- Be a new or existing New Hampshire based meat processing facility, farm, or business that provides slaughter, processing, or custom butchering services.
- Be in good standing with the State of New Hampshire.
Examples of applicants:
- USDA Inspected Meat or Poultry Processing Facility
- Custom Exempt Meat or Poultry Processing Facility
- Custom Butcher Facility

Eligible Projects

Projects must:
- Utilize grant funds primarily to improve efficiency and/or capacity for meat and poultry processing in New Hampshire.
- Not begin before grant agreement is signed by all parties and has reached its start date.
- Be proposed and reasonably expected to be completed within 12 months of Governor and Executive Council approval. Any extension due to unforeseen circumstances must be approved by DAMF and the Governor and Executive Council.
Project examples include, but are not limited to:
- Purchase and installation of equipment such as
  - Band saw
  - Convection oven
  - Skinning machine
  - Smokehouse
  - Mixer grinder
  - Vacuum packaging equipment
  - Walk-in cooler
  - Livestock slaughter equipment
  - Livestock handling equipment (to accommodate holding a larger number of animals in a humane manner)
- Purchase of mobile processing units designed for either poultry or beef
- Purchase and installation of equipment or physical improvements to a processing facility to reduce food safety risks.