Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program – Phase 4
🏛 Rural Business-Cooperative Service
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for meat and poultry processors seeking to expand capacity in beef, pork, chicken, or turkey processing.
Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations, nonprofits, producer-owned cooperatives, tribes, and tribal entities currently engaged in primary cattle processing. Your facility must be physically located and operating in a U.S. state, and you must have been in business for at least one year. You must hold a FSIS grant of inspection, cooperative interstate shipment inspection, or state meat inspection certification.
Two funding tracks exist: Processing Expansion Projects ($50,000–$2 million with 50% cost match) and Simplified Equipment-Only Projects ($10,000–$250,000 with 25% cost match). Ineligible applicants include those with active awards under prior MPPEP phases, USDA AMS Local Meat Capacity Grants, or USDA Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grants. Nationally dominant processors (holding ≥4th largest market share) are ineligible.
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Program description
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.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative/Technical Proposal
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Cost Share Documentation
- Proof of Meat Inspection Certification (FSIS or State)
- Equipment Quotes and Specifications
- Facility Plans (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Melinda Martin Grantor
- 📧 mppep@usda.gov
- 📞 2027200054
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 10.381 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$64,000,000
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$26,969,470
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$2,674,361
-
$1,000,000
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$1,000,000
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$0
-
$0
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Tbp, Llc TX$0
Top States by Funding
- NH 2 awards $91.0M
- TN 1 awards $2.7M
- MD 1 awards $1.0M
- IL 1 awards $1.0M
- GA 1 awards $0.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Who can apply for MPPEP-4?
For-profit and nonprofit meat processors, cooperatives, tribes, and tribal entities engaged in primary cattle processing. You must be in business at least one year and hold proper meat inspection credentials. You cannot hold active awards from prior MPPEP phases or related USDA programs.
What activities does this grant fund?
Processing Expansion Projects fund equipment purchases over $250,000 plus facility improvements and renovations. Simplified Equipment-Only Projects fund equipment purchases up to $250,000 without renovation or installation costs.
What is the cost-matching requirement?
Processing Expansion Projects require 50% cost match. Simplified Equipment-Only Projects require 25% cost match. No match is provided by the government.
What are the funding ranges?
Processing Expansion Projects award $50,000 to $2 million. Simplified Equipment-Only Projects award $10,000 to $250,000. The total program pool is $60 million divided between two separate competitions.
What makes an application competitive?
Strong applications demonstrate capacity to increase processing volume, support local supply chains, and show financial viability. Clear cost share commitment and realistic equipment/facility plans are essential.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Determine which competition and project type fits your operation before writing. Clarify whether you need facility renovations or only equipment to make the right choice.
- Document your cost share sources early and secure written commitments. Lenders, investors, and equipment suppliers can provide letters of support.
- Show how your expansion directly supports local and regional supply chains. Explain producer connections and market relationships clearly.
- Verify your facility meets all FSIS or state inspection requirements before applying. Delays in inspection compliance can derail awards.
- Budget conservatively and include contingency for unforeseen costs. Detailed equipment quotes and contractor estimates strengthen credibility.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Underestimating cost share obligations and failing to secure commitments before final award. Applying without current meat inspection credentials or while holding an active award from prior MPPEP phases. Proposing unrealistic timelines or equipment specifications without detailed supplier quotes and facility assessment.
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