USDA Department: Rural Development
Grant focus: Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion
Application period: closes August 7, 2026
Awards Range: Two types of applications for each of the funding competitions will be accepted:
- 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.
- 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.
Match: Yes; cost share
Intended applicants: Eligible applicants include For-Profit Organizations, Nonprofit organizations, Producer-owned cooperatives, Tribes, and Tribal Entities.
Summary: The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) provides grants to help eligible meat and poultry processors expand their capacity. USDA Rural Development designed this program to encourage competition and sustainable growth in the U.S. meat processing sector, and to help improve supply chain resiliency. The primary purpose of MPPEP Phase 4 is to support the American Beef Industry by diversifying the meat and poultry supply chain and opening local market opportunities. The applicant’s facility must primary process cattle in order for the project to be eligible for the program, however, funds or equipment may be used for processing meat and poultry at the facility.
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