Grants & Financial Options

USDA is committed to supporting meat, poultry and egg establishments of all sizes. Below are available federal opportunities for financial and technical assistance, as well as resources available through private institutions and the broader community.

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Grants

The Local Food Promotion Program offers grants that are available to improve local food enterprises including meat processors. These grants must be matched by 10 or 25 percent from other sources before the grant can be awarded.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA):

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program is a competitive grant program supports small businesses in conducting high-quality, advanced research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture. Small and very small meat, poultry, and egg establishments can apply for SBIR grants to develop new technologies, products, or processes that improve efficiency, sustainability, or competitiveness. SBIR/STTR grants are awarded in 10 broad topic areas (8.3 and 8.5 appear to be relevant to FSIS).

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is the largest competitive grants program offered by NIFA, providing funding for fundamental and applied research, education, and extension projects in food and agricultural sciences. While not specifically targeted to small establishments, AFRI projects can generate knowledge and innovations that benefit the entire meat, poultry, and egg sectors, including small and very small operations. Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) | NIFA (usda.gov)

NIFA supports state and local Cooperative Extension System offices, which provide research-based information and educational programs to agricultural producers, including small and very small meat, poultry, and egg establishments. Extension programs can offer workshops, training, and one-on-one assistance on topics such as food safety, animal health, business management, and marketing.

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) provides grants to organizations that offer education, training, and technical assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers, including those in the meat, poultry, and egg sectors. Small and very small establishments operated by beginning farmers and ranchers can benefit from these resources to enhance their skills and knowledge.

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program grants support research and education projects that advance sustainable agriculture practices, benefiting farmers, ranchers, and processors of all sizes. Small and very small meat, poultry, and egg establishments can participate in SARE-funded projects or apply knowledge generated by SARE to improve the sustainability of their operations.

Rural Development Business Programs

USDA's Rural Development (RD) provides financial backing and technical assistance to stimulate business creation and growth. RD offers programs through partnerships with public and private community-based organizations and financial institutions to provide financial assistance, business development, and technical assistance to rural businesses. These programs help to provide capital, equipment, space, job training, and entrepreneurial skills that can help to start and/or grow a business.

Business Programs also support the creation and preservation of quality jobs in rural areas. Loans, loan guarantees, and grants are available to individuals, businesses, cooperatives, farmers and ranchers, public bodies, non-profit corporations, Native American Tribes, and private companies in rural communities. The financial resources of the Business Programs are often leveraged with those of other public and private credit source lenders to meet business and credit needs in under-served areas. The funding is intended to help improve the quality of life in rural communities by enhancing economic opportunities and ensuring self-sustainability for generations to come.

Rural Development Business Programs:

Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans and Programs

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers three options of loans guarantees for qualifying small meat processors. A meat processor qualifies for these SBA programs based on the number of employees at the establishment:

Slaughter, excluding poultry, 1,000 or fewer
Meat processing from carcasses, 1,000 or fewer
Rendering and meat byproduct processing, 750 or fewer
Poultry processing, 1,250 or fewer

The 7(a) loan program can be used for working capital, refinancing, revolving funds, purchases of equipment and supplies, the purchase of real estate, construction and renovation, establishing a new business, or assisting in acquisitions, operation, or expansion of an existing. 7(a) loans are for a maximum of $5 million with an 85 percent guarantee on loans up to $150,000 and 75 percent guarantee on loans over $150,000.

504 guarantees can be used for major fixed assets including purchase or construction of existing buildings or land, new facilities, and long-term machinery and equipment. 504 guarantees are for a maximum of $5 million with maturities for 10 to 25 years.

Microloan guarantees are to be used for small improvements including rebuilding, re-opening, repairs. These guarantees have a maximum value of $50,000.