Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
About This Grant
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development (RD) Rural Business Cooperative Service (RBCS or Agency), requests applications for the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4 (the Program or MPPEP-4) - Fortifying the American Beef Industry. MPPEP-4 is authorized under Section 1001(b)(4) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which provides funding to make loans and grants and provide other assistance to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. Pursuant to this authority, USDA is making competitive grant funding available to Very Small Processors and Small Processors, and to Intermediate Processors to maximize the value and utilization of their existing capacity, with a focus on promoting local supply chains. Grant funding in the amount of $60 million is available under this Program. Funding will be divided equally into two separate competitions: one for Very Small Processors and Small Processors, and one for Intermediate Processors. Each competition will have its own ranking and award process. Cost share is required. Applicants will be required to identify sources and amounts that will make up the required cost share in the application and will need to verify cost share funding prior to final award approval. Two types of applications for each of the funding competitions will be accepted:1. Processing Expansion Projects. Awards will range from $50,000 to $2 million to support a range of activities to increase and diversify processing capacity of American Meat and Poultry, including Equipment-only purchases over $250,000, and necessary improvements, upgrades, renovations or retrofits to an existing Facility needed to install the Equipment. A match requirement of 50 percent of the Project Cost is required for Processing Expansion Projects. 2. Simplified Equipment-Only Projects. Awards will range from $10,000 to $250,000 for projects that only request the cost of Equipment and do not include renovation, labor, installation, or certification costs. A match requirement of 25 percent of the Project Cost is required for Simplified Equipment-Only Projects.Eligible applicants for MPPEP-4 include entities that are currently engaged in the Primary Processing of cattle for commercial markets or toll process and have been in business for at least one year. Eligible applicants include For Profit Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations, Producer-owned cooperatives, Tribes, and Tribal Entities. Privately-owned entities must be Independently Owned and Operated, and all applicants must be Domestically Owned. Additionally, an applicant s Facility must be physically located and operating in a State. Eligible applicants must be currently operating under a FSIS grant of inspection, grant of inspection under a Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program, or a State Meat and Poultry inspection program with standards at least equal to Federal inspection.Ineligible applicants include entities that have an active Federal Award through MPPEP Phase 1, MPPEP Phase 2, MPPEP Phase 3, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Local Meat Capacity Grants program, or USDA AMS Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant program. An active award means that the Period of Performance has not ended.Applicants must meet the definition of a Very Small Processor, a Small Processor, or an Intermediate Processor. Applicants that are nationally dominant in beef, pork, chicken, or turkey processing are ineligible; for the purpose of this NOFO, nationally dominant is characterized as holding a market share greater than or equal to the entity that holds the fourth largest share of the market for beef, pork, chicken, or turkey processing.
Grant Summary
Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4 is a Rural Business-Cooperative Service grant providing $10K to $2M for nonprofit. Applications are due 2026-08-07 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
Focus Areas
Eligibility
Requirements
- required to identify sources and amounts that will make up the required cost share in the application and will need to verify cost share funding prior to final award approval
How to Apply
$10K–$2M
2026-08-07
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4 from Rural Business-Cooperative Service, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
- 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
- 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
- 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to Rural Business-Cooperative Service before the deadline.
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Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4?
Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4 is offered by Rural Business-Cooperative Service and is generally open to nonprofit. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.
How much funding does the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4 provide?
Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4 provides between $10K and $2M per award from Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.
When is the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4 deadline?
Applications for Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4 are due 2026-08-07 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.
How do you apply for the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4?
To apply for Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from Rural Business-Cooperative Service.