ELIZABETHTOWN, PA. — The American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) recently confirmed that an ongoing national freeze on grants is affecting small meat processors.

The trade association stated in a post that Granite State Packing, in Claremont, NH, was awarded a $1.6 million Local Meat Capacity (Local MCap) grant from the US Department of Agriculture. The grant was designated to add pork slaughter capacity to its current facility. 

According to Arion Thiboumery, director of the board at Granite State, the company started construction and ordered more than $600,000 in new equipment before receiving a notice that the grant funds were on hold.

“This is very painful for us, as we have many expenses coming at us and no grant funds,” Thiboumery said. 

The company stated that it is currently owed around $100,000 in reimbursements from the USDA and only received about $150,000 in grant funds.

“As you know it’s very hard to stop a project mid-stream,” Thiboumery said. “The lack of clarity on when the funds will come is causing a lot of anxiety and making us wonder what we can or should do.” 

In an announcement during Oct. 2024, USDA awarded 97 projects through Local MCap, totaling $55.8 million. 

“The purpose of the recent federal grant programs was to grow the small meat and poultry processing sector, and while not every award hit that mark, the grants overall were very beneficial,” AAMP said in its post. “Growing the small meat supply chain is not a controversial issue. Furthermore, the money has already been awarded. Companies have poured concrete for new construction and ordered equipment for expanded processing. If payment is frozen, or worse, canceled, the consequences could drive a small processor out of business.”

AAMP provided a list of members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees for individuals wanting to contact members of Congress regarding the frozen USDA grant money.