Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant

Supports the growth of very small meat and poultry processors in Pennsylvania by reimbursing the costs of opening a new processing operation or expanding a current one, including the cost of obtaining a USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) grant of inspection. Grants are limited to no more than $100,000 per applicant. Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

The applicant must be a very small meat and poultry processor and either currently operate under a grant of inspection or attest that it will obtain one upon completion of the approved project. A "very small establishment" is defined in 9 CFR 381.65(g)(1)(i). Covered types — Meat: beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, goat; Poultry: chicken, turkey, duck, goose, guinea, squab, and ratites (emu, ostrich, rhea); Eggs: chicken, turkey, duck, goose, guinea; Fish: catfish.

Reimbursement grant, up to $100,000 per applicant. No match is required except up to 85% reimbursement on the purchase of meat/poultry slaughter or processing equipment or supplies (a 15% applicant match on equipment; this excludes structures, buildings, and roofing). Eligible: consulting/technical support; professional training and education; up to 85% of equipment/supplies; employee-safety equipment/supplies. Grants cannot pay wages/salaries, in-kind contributions, or any project part already reimbursed by another federal or state grant program. Program pool up to no less than $500,000.

Apply online through the DCED Electronic Single Application, with program-specific items in the Addenda Section. Applications are scored on a 100-point scale. The 2025-26 application period ran through May 8, 2026.