Local Meat Capacity Grant (Local MCap)

This 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.

Processing Expansion Projects will fund grants from $100,000 up to $5 million to increase the processing and/or rendering capacity of privately, cooperatively, non-profit, or Tribally held processing facilities as described in this RFA. 

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.

Eligible applicants for Local MCap grants include business entities (regardless of legal structure) engaged in meat and poultry processing, including rendering animal carcasses or byproducts. Eligible entities include Tribes and Tribal Entities, for-profit entities, non-profit entities, and State or local government entities. Private entities must be independently owned and operated, and all applicants must be domestically owned. Additionally, applicants’ facilities must be physically located within the 50 States of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Examples of Processing Expansion Projects include but are not limited to: 

• Expanding processing capacities to increase production volumes, process additional meat and poultry species, or add new value-added product types;  

• Upgrading processing and manufacturing equipment;  

• Increasing packaging and labeling capacity; 

• Increasing cold storage capacity;

• Improving slaughter and humane handling infrastructure; 

• Installation of holding pens or wastewater management systems, or other improvements that do not require breaking new ground or constructing new facilities. 

Examples of Simplified Equipment Projects include but are not limited to:  

• Smokers 

• Sausage makers  

• Breaders 

1. Prior to submitting an application, confirm that your organization is registered with Grants.gov and the System for Award Management (SAM). 

2. Follow the application instructions and submission requirements in the RFA and Grants.gov Application Guide (pdf). 

3. To be considered for funding, all required forms** must **be submitted as part of a complete application package. Your application will not be considered if all required forms are not submitted together, you should review AMS’ Late Applications, Denials and/or Appeal Procedures (pdf) for further information. 

4. Submit application through Grants.gov. 

• 2023 Request for Application (pdf)

• Local MCap Specific Terms and Conditions (pdf)

• Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)

• Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity - Technical Assistance

• Processing Expansion Projects – Project Narrative Template (docx)

• Simplified Equipment-Only Projects – Project Narrative Template (docx)

• Critical Resource Infrastructure Template Letter (docx)

• Verification of Matching Funds Template Letter (docx)