AGRI Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing Grant

The application period for this program is closed.

The AGRI Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing (MPEM) Grant offers designated grants to facilitate the start-up, modernization, or expansion of meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing businesses. The intent of the program is to increase sales of Minnesota-raised livestock products by investing in equipment and physical improvements that support processing, capacity, market diversification, and market access.

Eligibility and funding priorities

Eligible applicants include:

• Individuals
• Farmers
• Businesses
• Agricultural cooperatives
• Nonprofit organizations
• Educational institutions
• Local governments
• Tribal governments

We will prioritize projects that:

• Create additional meat or poultry slaughter and processing capacity
• Increase access to kosher or halal markets
• Contribute to a food safety plan or increase food safety

Amount available

In fiscal year (FY) 2025, we expect to award $2.5 million through the AGRI Value-Added and AGRI Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk (MPEM) Grants. Of this amount, at least $1.17 million is set aside for meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing businesses.

Cash match

This grant requires a cash match. For the match:

• You are responsible for 50% of the first $50,000 to receive up to a $25,000 reimbursement.
• For costs after the first $50,000, you are responsible for 75% of the total remaining cost to receive 25% reimbursement, up to a maximum grant award of $150,000.

Example:

• You are working on a project that is expected to cost $400,000.
• We will reimburse $25,000 of the first $50,000 of expenses. After that, you would be eligible for $87,500 in grant reimbursement from the state and would have to contribute the remaining $262,500.
• In total, you would be eligible for $112,500 from the state and you would pay for the other $287,500.

Applying

The application period for this program closed on October 23, 2024. Details on this page and in the MPEM Request for Proposals (PDF) apply to the past round of funding.

Contact us if you need this information in an alternative format.

Grant writing assistance from USDA

Depending on capacity, you may be able to get free grant writing assistance from the North Central USDA Regional Food Business Center's technical assistance providers. Scroll down their webpage to see Minnesota’s providers, listed in bold.

Relationship to the AGRI Value-Added Grant

The FY 2025 AGRI MPEM and the FY 2025 AGRI Value-Added Grants will be administered as a single program with two application tracks. Meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing businesses should use the information on this page as it’s tailored to these organizations.