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MPPTA

Meat & Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance

Photo Credit:  Osage News

MEAT & POULTRY PROCESSING CAPACITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

USDA’s Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity - Technical Assistance (MPPTA) Program ensures that participants in USDA’s Meat and Poultry Supply Chain programs and initiatives have access to robust technical assistance (TA) to support their project development and success. These supply chain initiatives--including the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) Program and the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) - support the growth of domestic processing capacity and the ability of independent facilities to serve more customers in more markets.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) established a nationwide network of technical support focusing on four key areas, or scopes​:​

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  • Federal Grant Application Management: Navigating federal grants processes and procedures, from pre-award application processes through post-award grant management compliance;

  • Business Development and Financial Planning: Business and financial planning resources, market intelligence, and project/concept feasibility analyses;

  • Meat and Poultry Processing Technical and Operational Support: Advice and resources to support the operational needs--including workforce development of processing plant development and utilization; and

  • Supply Chain Development: Support for the development and maintenance of successful supply chain and marketing relationships between suppliers, processors, distributors, and customers.

Program Point of Contact

KeirJ.jpg

Keir Johnson-Reyes

Technical Assistance Director

keir@indianag.org

In March 2022, AMS identified the following organizations to serve as TA Providers:

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*The Flower Hill Institute will also serve as the overall Technical Assistance Coordinator for the MPPTA Program, working closely with AMS and the TA Providers to connect meat and poultry processors, USDA grant applicants, and grant-funded project managers to the resources and expertise best suited to support a project’s needs.

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What Does Meat & Poultry Processing Capacity - Technical Assistance (MPPTA) Offer?

  • Access to technical advisors located across industry, academia, and state and federal governments.

  • Focused outreach to a diversity of meat and poultry processing stakeholders, including small, rural, minority-owned, Native American and Tribal-owned businesses, and other underserved groups seeking to build or expand local and regional meat and poultry supply chain capacity.

  • General assistance with navigating USDA grant application and award processes, and guidance for successful post-award grant project management.

  • One-one-one advising, including project and proposal reviews tailored to the needs of diverse stakeholders ranging from small and very small businesses to regional concepts and established mid-sized processing companies.

  • Educational events, webinars, resources, and publications covering topics of interest for meat and poultry processing enterprises of all types.

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Note: The MPPTA Program does not offer or provide contractor services or financial capital. It does not offer grant writing or project management services, nor does the voluntary use of MPPTA guarantee the success of a grant application or the grant-funded project.

The Meat & Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) focuses on:

  • Improving meat and poultry slaughter and processing capacity and efficiency;

  • Developing new and expanding existing markets;

  • Increasing capacity and better meeting consumer and producer demand;

  • Maintaining strong inspection and food safety standards;

  • Obtaining a larger commercial presence; and

  • Increasing access to slaughter/processing facilities for smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged producers, veteran producers, and/or underserved communities.

The MPPEP allows:

  • Building new – or modernizing or expanding existing – processing facilities

  • Developing, installing, or modernizing equipment and technology

  • Ensuring compliance with packaging and labeling requirements

  • Upholding occupational and other safety requirements

  • Modifying facilities or equipment to protect food safety

  • Paying for voluntary grading services on value-added processed products

  • Offsetting costs associated with becoming an inspected facility

  • Supporting workforce recruitment, training, and retention

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