Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program — Phase II (MPPEP II)

Geographic Scope: United States and its territories

Program Status: Historical program (deadline was November 22, 2023)

Overview:
The MPPEP II provided competitive grant funding to help eligible processors expand their processing capacity, creating new and improved processing options for meat and poultry producers. The program was designed to encourage competition and sustainable growth in the U.S. meat processing sector and improve supply chain resiliency.

Total Funding: $123 million in federal grant funding

Eligible Uses of Funds

• Building, modernizing, or expanding existing processing facilities, including mobile slaughter units
• 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
• Offsetting costs associated with becoming an inspected facility
• Staffing or operational costs specifically tied to the proposed project
• Supporting workforce recruitment, training, and retention
• Posting USDA's standard infrastructure investment signage during construction

Eligible Applicants

• Private entities (independently owned and operated)
• Non-profit organizations
• Tribal entities
• Cooperatives
• State or local government entities
• Other eligible entities

Requirements for applicants:

• Must process—or plan to process—one or more species subject to the Federal Meat Inspection Act or the Poultry Product Inspection Act
• If engaging in further processing, must include products of slaughter from their own facility
• Must have—or plan to obtain—a Federal Grant of Inspection through USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, a Grant of Inspection under the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program, or equivalent federal or state-based meat and poultry inspection program
• Must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
• Must comply with all applicable state, local, or Tribal laws
• All entities must be domestically owned
• Processing facilities must be physically located and operated within the U.S. or its territories
• Must have current and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM)

Technical Assistance

Flower Hill Institute serves as the lead technical assistance coordinator for the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance (MPPTA) Program and can match applicants with resources and network cooperators to guide through the application process and post-award management.

Disclaimer: The MPPTA Program Coordinators do not offer or provide direct contractor services, financial capital, 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.

Contact Information:

• Website: www.flowerhill.institute/usda-mppta
• Technical Assistance Request: Available through FHI website
• Social Media: DM on Facebook for MPPTA social media engagement team

Application Process

Application Period: August 24, 2023 — November 22, 2023 (historical deadline)

Application Deadline: 11:59 PM Eastern Time on November 22, 2023

Submission Platform: www.Grants.gov

Note: Applications submitted after the deadline or filed in any other manner were not considered for evaluation or funding.

Pre-Application Requirements

All applicant entities must:

1. Have a current and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM)
2. Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
3. Obtain a Commercial And Government Entity (CAGE) Code number
4. Register on Grants.gov

Please reference Section 4.6 of the MPPEP RFA for detailed registration instructions.

Required Materials & Documents

• Request for Applications (RFA)
• Application Checklist
• Application Template
• Environmental Review Checklist
• Feasibility Study Guide
• MPPEP FAQs
• RBCS (USDA system documentation)

Resources Available

• Application Checklist (PDF)
• Application Template (.docx)
• Environmental Review Checklist (PDF)
• Feasibility Study Guidelines (PDF)
• MPPEP FAQs (PDF)
• RBCS How-To Apply Video Series for Applicants
• Technical Assistance through MPPTA program

Webinar Support

Two webinars were offered to help applicants:

1. MPPEP Phase II Grant Applicant Webinar – Discussed application and eligibility requirements
2. SAM.Gov and Other Requirements for MPPEP II Webinar – Walked applicants through pre-application requirements including SAM.gov registration, Grants.gov registration, UEI and CAGE Code acquisition