BISMARCK, N.D., March 6, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for North Dakota Erin Oban today announced the Biden-Harris Administration is investing five million for meat and poultry processing in North Dakota. USDA also announced initial steps the Department is taking to create a more competitive marketplace for seeds and other agricultural inputs.
This investment announced today supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain, which dedicates resources to expand independent processing capacity. As President Biden has highlighted, creating fairer markets and more opportunities for family farmers helps bring down prices at the grocery store.
"USDA Rural Development previously awarded a $10 million grant to Lewis and Clark Development Group to establish a revolving loan fund specifically to support North Dakota producers, North Dakota processors, and North Dakota consumers,” said Oban. “The addition of this $5 million award will increase the capacity of Lewis and Clark to partner with additional meat processors across the state and improve their access to capital for years to come."
Secretary Vilsack announced the new investments at the National Farmers Union convention in San Francisco. USDA is providing $89 million in grants under the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP) to increase available financing for independent processors, alleviate bottlenecks, and create opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs in rural communities. The investments are being made under the second round of the program. Last fall, USDA awarded $75 million in grants to 8 nonprofit lenders in 7 states under the first round of MPILP.
In North Dakota:
- In North Dakota, Lewis & Clark Development Group is receiving $5 million to support the expansion of meat and poultry processing. The funds will focus on increasing capacity and diversifying America’s food supply chain while furthering economic opportunity with Cloverdale Foods. Lewis and Clark has a 20-year relationship with Cloverdale Foods, which has a long history of investing in local communities and supporting local pork and cattle producers. The funds will support Cloverdale's plan for growth over the next three years. This assistance is expected to create 225 jobs.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, promoting competition and fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit http://www.usda.gov.
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