WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is awarding more than $35 million in grants to 15 independent meat processors in 12 states to increase processing capacity, spur competition, expand market opportunities for U.S. farmers, and create jobs in rural areas. This marks the final investment in the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP), funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which was first launched in 2022.

The investments announced today also advance the President’s Investing in America agenda and support the Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain, which dedicates resources to expand independent processing capacity.

“For the past four years, the Biden-Harris Administration has advanced a sustainable vision of agriculture that prioritizes the needs of the hardworking producers and small business owners who keep rural communities strong,” Secretary Vilsack said. “Through investments like these, USDA is working to give farmers and ranchers a fair chance to compete in the marketplace, which will increase local food options and lower grocery costs for American families.”

Since the beginning of the program, USDA has provided 74 awards totaling more than $325 million through MPPEP to expand processing capacity and strengthen the food supply chain.

Many projects are still in development and have already increased processing capacity at these facilities by more than 800,000 cattle, 14,000 hogs, 23 million chickens, and 5 million turkeys annually. Additionally these projects are serving almost 900 additional meat and poultry producers and have created more than 1,200 new jobs.

As part of today’s announcement, the funding will help build new processing plants, create hundreds of jobs, give local producers and entrepreneurs better business opportunities, and provide consumers with more options at grocery stores. For example:

- America’s Heartland Packing is receiving a $10 million grant to build a large beef processing plant outside of St. Louis, Missouri. The plant will be LEED certified and will supply beef to domestic and international wholesalers, retailers, pet food companies and food manufacturers.

- Mark’s Custom Meats in Pennsylvania is receiving a $750,000 grant to double the size of their current meat processing facility, serving an additional 15 producers and creating four new full-time jobs.

- Damian's Craft Meats is a Latinx-owned processor using a $4 million grant to build a new facility in southeastern Michigan to serve local cattle, hogs, goats, and lamb producers. Damian's will offer fee-for-service processing and purchase animals from local producers through competitive pricing.

The awards will benefit people living in Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan Minnesota Missouri Montana Nebraska New York Pennsylvania

Details on all of the awards announced are available online.

Delivering on Fair Competitive Transparent Markets

MPPEP is one of many actions that USDA is taking to expand processing capacity create more revenue streams market opportunities for producers improve competitive landscape food agricultural markets Under President Biden historic Executive Order Promoting Competition America Economy as set out our competition report USDA has led whole-of-USDA approach partaken whole-of-government initiative improve competitive landscape food agricultural markets

Since start Biden-Harris Administration USDA has invested over $1.4 billion support new expanded small-sized medium-sized processing facilities create more resilient diverse secure U.S food supply chain Additional information all these programs available www.usda.gov/meat In addition USDA Food Safety Inspection Service FSIS holding small plant roundtables assist small businesses federal regulations Between 2023 2024 roundtables were held provide opportunity communication help small plant owners operations successful

USDA also supporting greater transparency markets February finalized new rule only permits voluntary Product USA Made USA claim applied those FSIS-regulated meat poultry products derived from animals born raised slaughtered processed United States better aligns consumer understanding what label means

In last three half years USDA put forth suite critical new rules under Packers Stockyards Act promote transparency contracting tournaments address unfairness deception broiler grower payments poultry grower ranking systems capital improvement systems prohibit discrimination retaliation deception range circumstances provide better clarity around unfair practices competitive injury With two final rules two proposed rules more way USDA reinvigorating century-old fair competitive market laws empower producers growers

USDA Rural Development provides loans grants help expand economic opportunities create jobs improve quality life millions Americans rural areas This assistance supports infrastructure improvements business development housing community facilities such schools public safety health care high-speed internet access rural tribal high-poverty areas Visit Rural Data Gateway learn how where these investments impacting rural America To learn more visit www.usda.gov

USDA touches lives all Americans each day so many positive ways Under Biden-Harris Administration USDA transforming America food system greater focus more resilient local regional food production promoting competition fairer markets all producers ensuring access safe healthy nutritious food all communities building new markets streams income farmers producers using climate-smart food forestry practices making historic investments infrastructure clean energy capabilities rural America committing equity across Department removing systemic barriers building workforce more representative America To learn more visit www.usda.gov

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