CARES Act Grants Made to Local Meat Processors
The Missouri Department of Agriculture has awarded $16,716,406 million in CARES Act funding to nearly 150 small and medium sized meat and poultry processing businesses.
As a direct result of the reimbursement grant, more than 40 businesses were assisted in initiating or expanding their level of meat processing through a new grant of inspection or custom exempt inspection status.
The Meat & Poultry Processing Grant was created to support meat and poultry processing establishments that employ fewer than 200 people with the end goal of creating stronger food supply resiliency across the state. The Missouri General Assembly appropriated the federal funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES ACT”) to help support these establishments and their communities.
Last year the Missouri Department of Agriculture doubled the amount of red meat under state inspection, so we know the demand is there. This grant has helped bring 27 businesses into state inspection status, doubling the number of state inspected facilities in Missouri.
Among the businesses to receive grant funding were Paradise Locker Inc. in Trimble, Missouri Specialty Meats, L.L.C. in Gallatin, and Campo Lindo Farms, Inc. Lathrop all of which received $200,000 grants.
Chillicothe Meats LLC Chillicothe received a $180,005.34 grant, while John Graves Food Service Chillicothe received a $100,000 grant.
Meadville Locker, LLC in Meadville, J’s Mowing & Custom Butchering and Deli in Stanberry, Clark’s Custom Meat Co. St. Joseph, Brown Custom Meats Pattonsburg, and Brendle’s Butcher Block LLC Gower each received a $20,000 grant.
The grant funds were used to reimburse costs associated with purchasing or improving equipment, upgrades to utilities such as water, electric, heat or cooling, packaging equipment, costs associated with becoming an inspected establishment and more.
The full list of grant award winners can be found here.