On March 25, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the launch of the Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance Program, which will provide technical assistance to meat and poultry grant applicants.

Processors part of the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant program and the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program have access to the new program, which is made possible by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, according to the USDA news release. The service has created partnerships with three non-profit organizations as part of the Biden-⁠Harris Action Plan for a fairer, more competitive and more resilient meat and poultry supply chain.

“Meat and poultry processing is a complex sector that requires significant planning and forethought to manage economic viability concurrently with worker, food and environmental safety," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "We are pleased to partner with these initial organizations, given their deep technical expertise and demonstrated service to underserved communities, as part of our support for fairer, more competitive and resilient meat and poultry supply chains."

Vilsack went on to say the USDA was building on the success of the inspection readiness grant program to increase opportunities for small and medium meat and poultry processors around the country. The initial round reportedly provided $32 million in funding, the USDA reported.