USDA AMS Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program Grant OPEN

What does this program do?
The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) provides grants to help eligible processors expand their capacity. USDA Rural Development designed the MPPEP to encourage competition.
Sole proprietor businesses or other entities that engage - or want to engage - in meat and poultry processing.
Grant funds can be used to expand processing capacity by supporting activities such as:
· Building new - or modernizing or expanding existing - processing facilities
· 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
· Paying for voluntary grading services on value-added processed products
· Offsetting costs associated with becoming an inspected facility
· Supporting workforce recruitment, training, and retention
The maximum award amount is $25 million, or 20 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. There is no minimum award amount.
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.
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 equivalent Tribal or state-based meat and poultry inspection program
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.
More information about this grant program can be found on the USDA Rural Development website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/progra...
Upcoming Events
Silvopasture on a Shoestring
October 7, 2025
Franklinville, NY
Join Joshua Greene, Director of Education at Trees For Graziers, Jonathan Bates, Statewide Agroforestry Educator, and Lynn Bliven, owner of Wild Geese Farm for a full day training event that will include classroom and hands-on sessions. The focus will be on DIY silvopasture projects on small grazing farms. We will address the practical considerations of tree establishment, protection, and maintenance while learning how silvopasture can help address your farm's resource concerns and enhance livestock grazing.
Optimizing the Economic Return of Pasture-Raised Slow-Growth and Conventional Broilers - Webinar
October 15, 2025
November 13, 2025
: Optimizing the Economic Return of Pasture-Raised Slow-Growth and Conventional Broilers - Webinar
Over the past three years, Cornell Cooperative Extension has worked with nearly 40 small farmers across NYS to gather information on the true costs of raising broilers (meat chickens) on pasture. This presentation is a summary of the findings of this research project.
Fecal Egg Count Mobile Workshop - East Aurora
October 21, 2025 : Fecal Egg Count Mobile Workshop - East Aurora
East Aurora, NY
This workshop will explain why regularly testing fecal egg counts can help you with understanding your animals' parasite loads and dewormer resistance. Attendees have the opportunity to prepare and evaluate fresh fecal samples under the microscope and practice interpretations.
Announcements
Herbicide Resistance Screening
We are screening weed species for herbicide resistance.Species we are looking for include, but aren't limited to:
- Tall Waterhemp
- Palmer Amaranth
- Marestail
- Redroot Pigweed
- Foxtails
- Common Lambsquarters
- Common Ragweed
Reach out to Katelyn Miller at 716-640-2047 or km753@cornell.edu for more information.