The Meat Processing Train and Retain Grant offers funding to partner organizations to assist small- to medium-sized meat and poultry processors with hiring and training new employees.
For this grant, we define small- to medium-sized meat and poultry processors as those that:
- Are licensed by the state of Minnesota or the federal government, and
- Have fewer than 150 employees.
Eligibility and funding priorities
Eligible partner organization applicants include:
- Foundations engaged in economic development
- Community development financial institutions
- Federally recognized economic development districts
- Community development corporations
This program prioritizes:
- Partner organizations working in cooperation with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
- Partner organizations whose efforts would target or serve meat or poultry processing operations that are in distressed communities, based on the Economic Innovation Group's Distressed Communities Index (DCI).
Funding from this program can be used for expenses such as:
- Tuition reimbursement
- Signing and retention bonuses for new hires
- Employee relocation assistance
- Other related expenses
See the request for proposals (RFP) for more information on eligible expenses.
Amount available
We expect to award up to $350,000 using a competitive review process.
- Awards will range from $10,000 to $250,000.
- No processor may receive more than $50,000 from this grant.
- No employee may receive more than $10,000 through this grant.
Projects must be completed by June 30, 2026.
Applying
Applications are due by 4 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Monday, April 28, 2025.
- Carefully read the full FY25 Meat Processing Train & Retain RFP (PDF) for eligibility and requirements.
- We encourage you to apply online.
- If you are a new user, you will need to create an account.
- Once you are logged in, select “Meat Processing Train and Retain Grant.”
Contact us if you need this information in an alternative format.
Meat Processing Train & Retain Grant Q&A
We will accept program questions until 4 p.m. CT on April 21, 2025, and will post all questions and answers on this page.
Yes, employees could attend out-of-state courses. The tuition expenses would be eligible. However, partnership with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is prioritized in the application process.
If the processor is producing edible meat and poultry products, they would be eligible to receive funds from the applicant organization. This means the processor must be subject to Minnesota “Equal to” or USDA inspection, hold a custom exempt permit, or be considered retail exempt.
Meat processing employees who are hired June 15, 2025, and after would be eligible to receive funds from the applicant organization, unless the grant contract is executed earlier.
The applicant organization/grantee would be subject to the pre-award financial risk assessment (if the grant award is $50,000 or greater). The grantee’s books, records, documents, and accounting procedures and practices of the grantee or other party that are relevant to the grant or transaction are subject to examination by the MDA, the Department of Administration, and either the legislative auditor or state auditor, as appropriate (MINN. STAT. 16B.98, subd. 8).
As stated on page 3 of the Train and Retain RFP, projects must be conducted in Minnesota to be eligible. Participating meat and poultry processors must be located in Minnesota and licensed by the state of Minnesota.
Administrative costs are costs incurred by the partner organization (grant applicant) so it can perform work on the grant. For example, part of the grant coordinator’s salary or office space rental could be considered administrative costs. Sign-on bonuses and housing relocation assistance for meat processor employees are not administrative costs.
Partner organizations must agree to minimize administrative costs as a condition of the grant. The MDA expects that applicants request to use no more than 10% of the total award for administrative costs, but the MDA will consider reasonable costs more than this amount. All anticipated administrative costs must be justified in the proposal.
Childcare stipends are for new meat processor employees who may need financial assistance with childcare. Eligible expenses such as childcare stipends, employee relocation assistance, tuition reimbursement, etc. are intended for new meat processor employees only. Expenses that incentivize current employees, the meat processor owner, etc., are not eligible. See pages 3-4 of the Train and Retain RFP for more information.
