MADISON, WIS. — The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced that meat processors in the state can apply for an infrastructure grant through March 8.

According to the DATCP, the state’s 2023-25 budget provided a one-time increase of $1.6 million for the program, bringing the total for this round to $1.8 million.

“Wisconsin’s meat processors have been working to increase resiliency and capacity in the supply chain, and these grants help support projects that do just that,” said Randy Romanski, secretary for DATCP. “Governor Evers has provided access to meat grants through federal dollars and the 2023-25 biennial budget. This important program helps ease supply chain bottlenecks and supports our state’s meat processing industry.”

Eligible applicants must operate or intend to operate a DATCP of a USDA-licensed meat processing plant in Wisconsin and work in livestock harvest or processing. A company’s grant project must increase harvest capacity or production.

Funding from the grants can be used for operating expenses directly related to the project, including expenses for engineering, architectural design, construction, food safety consultation, equipment purchase and equipment installation.

DATCP can award grants of up to $50,000 for project proposals that last up to two years. In order to qualify, processors are required to provide a match of 100% of the grant amount.

Grant applications are available here.

In October 2022, Wisconsin awarded 91 processors a total of $10 million through the governor’s Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Resiliency Grants, which uses funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.