GRAND FORKS, ND – Planning is underway for a $1.3 million livestock processing plant in northeast North Dakota, according to local news reports.

The Red River Regional Council received a $42,000 grant from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture's Products Utilization Commission. The money will be used to develop a business plan for the proposed multi-species meat processing facility. Proposed locations for the plant include Pembina or Walsh County. The county plans to hire a private company to develop the business plan.

Prairie Business reported the plant will likely process 1,000 head of livestock annually. Cattle will likely be the main protein, but hogs and deer also would be processed at the facility.