The AGRI Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing (MPEM) Grant offers designated grants to facilitate the start-up, modernization, or expansion of meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing businesses.
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 10/23/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The intent of the program is to increase sales of Minnesota-raised livestock products by investing in equipment and physical improvements that support processing, capacity, market diversification, and market access.
Priorities
This grant program serves start-up, modernization, or expansion of meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing facilities and will prioritize:

Projects that increase food safety.
Projects that focus on meat or poultry processing capacity, especially slaughtering.
Projects that increase access to kosher or halal markets.

Funding Information
In fiscal year (FY) 2025, they expect to award $2.5 million through the AGRI Value-Added and AGRI Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk (MPEM) Grants. Of this amount, at least $1.17 million is set aside for meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing businesses.
This grant requires a cash match. For the match:

You are responsible for 50% of the first $50,000 to receive up to a $25,000 reimbursement.
For costs after the first $50,000, you are responsible for 75% of the total remaining cost to receive 25% reimbursement, up to a maximum grant award of $150,000.

Eligible Projects and Expenses 
Projects must aim to increase sales of Minnesota livestock products by increasing production capacity, diversifying markets, or increasing market access for meat, poultry, egg, and milk products. Project must be conducted in Minnesota.
Project examples include but are not limited to:

Purchase and installation of equipment used in the processing of meat, poultry, eggs, or milk
Contractor costs and materials for installation of approved equipment, including plumbing, drainage, venting, and electrical work
Cooler walls and refrigeration units
Portion cutters
Livestock slaughter equipment such as cradles, saws, hooks, scalders, or sinks
Equipment or facilities to accommodate holding a larger number of animals in a humane manner (fences, gates, chutes)
Creamery or milk product processing equipment
Grading, packing, labeling, packaging, or sorting equipment
Egg sanitizing, candling, drying, and grading equipment
Equipment that helps to maintain the identity and traceability of products
Processing equipment or physical improvements to a processing facility to reduce food safety risks.

Eligibility Criteria 

Eligible applicants include:

Individuals
Farmers
Businesses
Agricultural cooperatives
Nonprofit organizations
Educational institutions
Local governments
Tribal governments

MDA will prioritize projects that:

Create additional meat or poultry slaughter and processing capacity
Increase access to kosher or halal markets
Contribute to a food safety plan or increase food safety.

For more information, visit MDA.