Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program

The primary purpose of all projects must be to expand or enhance indigenous animals and meat processing capacity in Indian country. Projects can also include other activities as described in the list below. In the project narrative, applicants must describe how the proposed activities will increase animal protein processing capacity, enhance food safety and cleanliness, and increase Tribal food security with a focus on fair and equitable community food distribution. Additionally, the application must include the design and the plan to maintain the long-term viability of the animal processing operation. Applicants should demonstrate a connection to developing adequate animal protein processing infrastructure in a location where such infrastructure is currently inadequate for indigenous species or Tribal community food security.
Eligible activities will demonstrate the ability to improve harvesting, processing, and packaging to create a more resilient, diverse, and secure indigenous food systems. Wholistic applications may also include manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, community accessibility, or food (protein) distribution.
Applications must include indigenous animals and meat processing activities such as those listed below which clearly demonstrate the ability to expand or enhance protein processing capacity in Indian country. Eligible activities include: 1) Build, expand, or upgrade community indigenous meat, food-sovereignty harvesting/processing facilities (fixed or mobile); 2) Purchase and modernization of an inoperable or outdated processing facility;
3) Enhance infrastructure to improve humane handling and humane slaughter; 4) Purchase and install traditional implements and equipment necessary, with modifications as appropriate, for indigenous slaughter and processing methods' 5) Expand processing capacities to add species or increase volume; 6) Purchase or upgrade mobile harvest and/or processing units and supporting equipment
7) Purchase or upgrade processing and manufacturing equipment (including cutting equipment, mixers, grinders, breaders, sausage stuffers, smokers, curing equipment, pipes, motors, pumps, and valves); 8) Purchase or upgrade cold storage to support the protein processing facilities;
9) Construction of holding pens; 10) Construction of wastewater management structures. See RFA for additional information.