Local Meat Processing Capacity Grants

The Small Projects Grant is a good fit for projects that can be completed before June 30, 2022 and cost $150,000 or less. This is a good grant for applicants who are:

• A WSDA-licensed Custom Farm Slaughterer, Custom Slaughtering Establishment or Custom Meat Facility;
• A firm pursuing a license with WSDA as a Custom Farm Slaughterer, Custom Slaughtering Establishment or Custom Meat Facility, with WSDA licensing anticipated during the grant period or shortly after (up to 6 months);
• A direct-marketing livestock producer operating a retail meat establishment that is permitted by a local health jurisdiction and operates in adherence to the USDA FSIS Retail Exemption (See FSIS Guidance Document, pages 7-11);
• A direct-marketing livestock producer pursuing a retail meat establishment that will be permitted by a local health jurisdiction and will operate in adherence to the USDA FSIS Retail Exemption, with permitted operation anticipated to begin during the grant period or shortly after (up to six months);
• A firm operating with a WSDA Food Processor license for poultry processing; 
• A firm pursuing a WSDA Food Processor license for poultry processing, with WSDA licensing anticipated during the grant period or shortly after (up to six months);
• A WSDA-licensed Custom Farm Slaughterer, Custom Slaughtering Establishment or Custom Meat Facility, that is taking steps towards pursuing USDA inspection but does not anticipate being USDA inspected within the grant period or shortly after;
• A non-profit or government entity directly providing or enabling access to meat or poultry slaughter or processing services or equipment for Washington livestock producers.

The Large Projects Grant is intended for projects that increase the availability of USDA-inspected services to small farms, take more time and planning to complete but can be completed by June 30, 2023, and cost $150,000 to $750,000. This is a good grant for applicants who are:

• A firm conducting USDA-inspected slaughter or USDA-inspected processing and slaughter, including firms utilizing mobile or modular units;
• A firm, such as a WSDA-licensed Custom processor, developing USDA-inspected slaughter or USDA-inspected processing and slaughter, with an anticipated FSIS Grant of Inspection occurring during the grant period or shortly after (up to one year); or
• A non-profit or government entity directly providing or enabling access to USDA-inspected meat or poultry slaughter or processing services for Washington livestock producers.

WSDA will be offering additional, Local Food System Infrastructure and Market Access Grants later this year to improve food supply chain infrastructure and market access for farms, food processors, and food distributors.  This grant may be a good fit for some meat processors. Please check back to the WSDA grants page in the coming months for details.