WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and USDA have announced that the agency will be giving $35 million in grants to 15 independent meat processors in 12 states. This funding will help boost the capacity of processing, create competition to grow market prospects for American farmers and establish more employment options.
The $35 million will be the last investment made into the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP). The program was started in 2022 by President Biden. The president funded the program through the American Rescue Plan.
“For the past four years, the Biden-Harris. . .