NDA TO AWARD GRANTS FOR MEAT PROCESSOR ASSISTANCE Press Release

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) will award approximately $9.8 million in Independent Processor Assistance Program Grants to support projects designed to improve and/or expand Nebraska’s meat processing capabilities. The money was designated for this program through Governor Ricketts’ recommendation to utilize a portion of Nebraska’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and in Sen. Brandt’s LB755 companion bill, with similar language passing in LB1014.

NDA will begin accepting grant applications on July 5. Applications are available at https://nda.nebraska.gov/promotion/meat_processors and must be received by the Aug. 12, 2022, deadline. 

The Independent Processor Assistance Program Grants are available to new or existing meat processors to facilitate improvements, enhancements, or expansions that will increase harvest capacity and/or product throughput. Eligible processors must operate as either a USDA-FSIS facility or a federally regulated custom-exempt slaughter and processing facility, while also complying with federal regulations. To be eligible, existing operations must be domiciled in the State of Nebraska and be registered in good standing with the Secretary of State to conduct business in Nebraska. Additionally, the processing facility’s existing sales revenue must be less than $2.5 million, and it must employ fewer than 25 people.

Application information and frequently asked questions about the grants are available on NDA’s website at nda.nebraska.gov. Completed applications may be submitted via email to breanna.wirth@nebraska.gov or mailed to Nebraska Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 94947, Lincoln, NE 68509. For additional questions, contact Breanna Wirth, NDA Legislative Coordinator, at 402-890-1509 or by the email listed above, or Senator Tom Brandt’s office.