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...