MPPTA
Meat & Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance
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.​​
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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
Supply Chain Development
Support for the development and maintenance of successful supply chain and marketing relationships between suppliers, processors, distributors, and customers.
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In March 2022, AMS identified the following organizations to serve as TA Providers:
Oregon State University - Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network
Intertribal Agriculture Council
American Association of Meat Processors
American Meat Science Association
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute
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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.
What does MPPTA offer?
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Access to technical advisors located across industry, academia, and state and federal governments.
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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.
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General assistance with navigating USDA grant application and award processes, and guidance for successful post-award grant project management.
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One-on-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.
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Educational events, webinars, resources, and publications covering topics of interest for meat and poultry processing enterprises of all types.
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*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.
Important Updates & Deadlines
Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program (IAG)
Applications due on July 19th at 11:59 PM (ET)
​​Program Fact Sheet | Grants.gov Posting | Request for Applications (RFA)
IAG is designed to support the priorities of Tribal Nations in meeting the needs of traditional harvesting methods and indigenous animals. This project intends to fund projects which invest in Tribal Nations’ supply chain resiliency, indigenous animals, restoring local indigenous food systems and indigenous processing methods, and expanding local capacity for the harvesting, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution (communal or commercial) of meat, poultry, seafood, and other animals that provide culturally appropriate food and food security to tribal communities.
For more information, please visit the official IAG webpage at www.usda.gov/iag.
Local Meat Capacity Grant Program (Local MCap)
Applications due on July 19th at 11:59 PM (ET)
​​Program Fact Sheet | Grants.gov Posting | Request for Applications (RFA)
The Local MCap program supports independently owned meat and poultry processing businesses with funds to provide more and better processing options for local livestock producers by modernizing, increasing, diversifying and decentralizing meat and poultry processing capacity, including support for rendering. Approximately $75 million is available under this grant program, subject to appropriations and funds availability.
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Processing Expansion Projects will fund grants from $100,000 up to $5,000,000 to increase the processing and/or rendering capacity of privately, cooperatively, non-profit, or Tribally held processing facilities as described in this RFA.
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Simplified Equipment-Only Projects offer a simplified application to fund smaller grants between $10,000 and $250,000 for equipment purchases for meat and poultry processors. 
For more information, visit the official Local MCap webpage at www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/localmcap.
Contact IAC for technical assistance.
