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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesOn July 11, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced nearly $110 million in grants for independent and local meat processing: more than $83 million for 24 processors through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP), and $26.9 million for 33 projects through the Local Meat Capacity (Local MCap) Grant Program. The announcement describes a 2024 award round; it does not establish that applications or funding are available in 2026.
What the USDA’s nearly $110 million announcement covered
USDA said the funding came through two distinct programs supported by the American Rescue Plan. The awards were intended to add independent processing capacity and expand local and regional options. The programs had different delivery structures and project scopes:
| Program | 2024 announcement | Delivery and project framing |
|---|---|---|
| Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) | More than $83 million for 24 independent processors in 15 states | USDA partnered with the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund to support new plants and expanded processing capacity. |
| Local Meat Capacity (Local MCap) Grant Program | $26.9 million for 33 projects in 23 states | Administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), it supported smaller-scale projects to increase local and regional processing options. |
USDA reported that, by the July 2024 announcement, it had made 59 MPPEP awards totaling more than $291.4 million. It had announced up to $75 million for Local MCap in April 2023. These are historical figures reported by USDA, not current program totals. USDA’s July 11, 2024 announcement, MPPEP award details, Local MCap award details, and USDA’s Local MCap program history describe the programs and figures.
Who received MPPEP grants?
USDA highlighted examples of grants for facility construction, refurbishment, and equipment. The agency’s release presented expected producer and employment figures for these projects; they are projections, not verified completed outcomes.
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- Simla Frozen Food Locker Co. LLC, Colorado: $450,000 to build a new facility. USDA said it was expected to serve 160 additional producers and create four full-time jobs.
- McRez Packing International LLC, New York: $390,000 to refurbish a mothballed industrial facility. USDA said the project was expected to serve up to 2,500 new producers and create 110 full-time jobs.
- North State Processing LLC, North Carolina: $10 million for a new facility in Hamlet. USDA reported that it was expected to serve 37 producers and support 54 jobs.
- NF Packing Inc., Wisconsin: $1.4 million to build and equip a new processing facility. The company anticipated serving 75 producers and creating 20 full-time jobs.
These examples are not a complete list of MPPEP recipients. USDA’s award announcement gives the details and attributes the anticipated figures to the projects or recipients.
What kinds of projects did Local MCap support?
The July 2024 round included two project categories, with different award ranges and uses described by USDA:
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| Category | USDA-stated award range | Examples of supported work |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment-only | $10,000–$250,000 | Purchases such as meat grinders, stuffers, and smokers; USDA also described Nordik Meats buying a grinder, meatball maker, and packaging equipment. |
| Processing expansion | $100,000–$5 million | Increased processing or rendering capacity through facility upgrades, equipment purchases, and training. |
USDA’s examples included White Oak Pastures converting a poultry facility for additional livestock processing and Seven Hills Food Co. addressing plant bottlenecks and adding rendering capacity. The agency reported expectations for capacity and employment associated with these projects; those figures are projections in the announcement, not independently measured results. See the Local MCap award release for the projects and award descriptions.
Do the grants mean more jobs, lower prices, or completed projects?
Not by themselves. USDA described the investment as a way to expand independent processing, improve markets for producers, strengthen supply chains, increase consumer options, and lower costs. Those are stated goals, not findings that the announcement proves were achieved. The release gives project expectations, but it does not establish completed construction, realized job or capacity gains, or consumer price effects.
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Then-Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said the investment was intended to give farmers and ranchers a fairer chance to compete, increase local food options, and lower costs for families. That statement expresses the administration’s intended effects; it is not an outcome evaluation. The USDA announcement is the source for the statement and the agency’s description of the program goals.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can a business apply for this USDA funding now?
The July 11, 2024 announcement is historical and does not show that either program is accepting applications or has funds available in 2026. It also does not provide a complete side-by-side eligibility analysis. A processor should check current notices and program information directly with USDA Rural Development for MPPEP or USDA AMS for Local MCap before relying on the 2024 award descriptions. Past award amounts and project categories do not establish eligibility for a future round.
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