USDA Announces Investments in Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Expansion

USDA announced nearly $110 million in investments designed to expand meat and poultry processing capacity in the United States through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) and the Local Meat Capacity (Local MCap) Grant Program. Specifically, USDA is partnering with the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund to provide more than $83 million in grants to 24 independent processors in 15 states under MPPEP. The funding will help build new processing plants, create jobs, give local producers and entrepreneurs better business opportunities, and give consumers more options. Meanwhile, the Local MCap grant program is awarding $26.9 million to 33 projects in 23 states to expand processing within the meat and poultry industry.