The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development (RD) Rural Business‐Cooperative Service (RBCS or Agency), is requesting applications for its Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program – Phase 4 (the Program or MPPEP-4) – Fortifying the American Beef Industry.
Donor Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/27/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The primary purpose of MPPEP-4 is to support the American Beef Industry by increasing processing capacity and promoting more competition in the sector, which is particularly vulnerable to disruption, consolidation and concentration. Based on public input, USDA identified an urgent need toexpand and diversify Meat and Poultry processing capacity; increase producer income; assist with Equipment purchases to enable access to new market or sales channels or to support process improvement; support employee training of Equipment operations, butchery skills, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) compliance, and achieving product specifications and consistency; and waste management. MPPEP-4 is targeted to support Very Small Processors, Small Processors, and Intermediate Processors engaged in the Primary Processing of cattle, with a focus on promoting local supply chains. MPPEP-4 funds will help the American Beef Industry diversify the Meat and Poultry supply chain and open local market opportunities. The applicant’s Facility must Primary Process cattle in order for the project to be eligible for the Program, however, funds or Equipment may be used for processing Meat and Poultry at the Facility.
MPPEP-4 is aligned with USDA’s plan to fortify the American Beef Industry through three coordinated priorities:
- Protecting And Improving The Business Of Ranching: Strengthening the foundation of U.S. cattle production through endangered species reforms, enhanced disaster relief, increased grazing access, increased access to capital, and affordable risk management tools.
- Expanding Processing, Consumer Transparency, And Market Access: Lowering long-term costs, increasing marketing options, and ensuring consumers have clear, truthful information about American beef.
- Building Demand Alongside Domestic Supply: Growing the domestic herd while boosting domestic and international demand so that ranchers are not trapped in the boom/bust cycle that has defined past cattle markets.
Funding Information
- Processing Expansion Projects: Processing Expansion Projects will be funded by grants ranging from $50,000 to $2 million to support a range of activities to increase and diversify processing capacity of American Meat and Poultry including Equipment-only purchases over $250,000.
- Simplified Equipment-Only Projects: Simplified Equipment-Only Projects will be funded by grants ranging from $10,000 to $250,000
Grant Period
24 months
Allowable Uses
Allowable uses of grant funds for Processing Expansion Projects include, but are not limited to:
- Purchasing or upgrading old or outdated processing Equipment, including refrigeration, cold storage expansion, packaging and labeling Equipment, smokers, vacuum tumblers, mixers, grinders, slicers and other Further Processing and value-added Equipment;
- Purchasing and installing virtual grading Equipment, special-purpose inventory management and traceability software, x-rays, and other Equipment designed to improve Processing capacity across multiple product lines;
- Purchasing or upgrading composting and other solid or liquid waste treatment Equipment;
- Upgrading Equipment to ensure food safety;
- Purchasing or updating Equipment to increase byproduct and other types of carcass utilization;
- Developing, customizing, and installing Equipment, devices, and technology that automates processing functions to improve worker conditions and safety;
- Purchasing new or retrofitting existing mobile or modular processing units;
- Developing, customizing, and installing Equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and/or increases efficient water use;
- Making internal or minimal external improvements, upgrades, renovations or retrofits (modifications) to an existing Facility needed/necessary to install the new Equipment; allowable construction activities include necessary electrical upgrades, HVAC-related improvements, and room reconfigurations (usually involves more than a room), and all expenses must be allocable/necessary to the Equipment installation;
- Marketing costs targeted specifically towards 1) local producers to increase the supply of livestock or poultry or number of producers requesting toll processing services from the Facility,
- Local consumers such as schools, restaurants, boutique stores, local grocery stores, etc., and
- Development of local markets for offal, hides, tallow, pet food, etc., to reduce operational expenses;
- Training on the use of all Equipment purchased under the grant and associated new processes;
- Processor costs associated with obtaining certification under the USDA National Organic
- Program or Process Verified Program;
- Ensuring compliance with occupational and othersafety requirements under applicable law; including revising existing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plans; and
- Personnel and fringe benefits costs directly related to the implementation of the project, to include financial and performance report development, award compliance, and other management costs associated with procurement for the project. Costs must be reasonable and cannot include day-to-day operations expenses.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants include For-Profit Organizations, Nonprofit organizations, Producer-owned cooperatives,Tribes, and Tribal Entities.
- Eligible applicants must also meet the following requirements:
- Meet the definition of Very Small Processor, Small Processor, or Intermediate Processor;
- Be currently engaged in the Primary Processing of cattle for commercial markets or toll process and been in operation for at least one year (as of the date of the application);
- Currently operate under an FSIS grant of inspection, grant of inspection under a Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program, or a state meat and poultry inspection program with standards at least equal to Federal inspection;
- Be Independently Owned and Operated;
- Be Domestically Owned; and
- Operate their Processing facility in a State.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
