State Director Greenfield notes investments in Cherokee and Fremont counties
DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 5, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today announced the Department is investing $1,100,000 in two Iowa projects to bolster meat production and diversify the nation’s meat supply.
“Under President Biden’s leadership, USDA is committed to increasing meat production, processing and retail supply in Iowa,” said Director Greenfield. “Today’s announcement of $1.1 million in loans and grants will help build a more resilient food supply chain for producers and consumers.”
-Jordan’s Meat Market LLC in Marcus in Cherokee County is receiving an $800,000 loan to construct a meat locker in Marcus. The funding will cover construction of the facility and working capital. The funding is through the Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program.
-Waubonsie Ridge Beef LLC in Fremont County is receiving a $210,000 grant to help Waubonsie Ridge Beef LLC, a cattle farm operation in Tabor, expand production, processing and marketing of retail beef cuts. The expansion will create more value-added meat products for sale to the public and will promote economic development in Fremont County. The funding is through the Value Added Producer Grant program.
Today’s announcement is part of a larger national announcement from USDA Secretary Vilsack for 25 projects in 15 states to increase independent meat processing capacity.
Secretary Vilsack also highlighted some of USDA’s accomplishments to date to support meat producers and support efforts to strengthen local and regional food supply chains.
He noted that under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has provided $54.6 million to 278 businesses and individuals through the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant Program (MPIRG) for strengthening and developing new market opportunities for U.S. meat and poultry processors.
Facility improvements and expansions funded through MPIRG will help processors obtain a Federal Grant of Inspection or qualify for a state’s Cooperative Interstate Shipment program. Achieving a Federal Grant of Inspection or operating under a Cooperative Interstate Shipment program allows meat and poultry processors to ship products across state lines, develop new markets, increase capacity, and better meet consumer and producer demand along the supply chain.
-West Liberty Locker and Processing was one of the 13 Iowa recipients of $200,000 MPIRG grants in 2022. The grant will help West Liberty Locker, a small slaughter and processing facility in Muscatine County, fund expansion and improvements of cold storage.
To further these efforts, AMS also invested up to $25 million to establish the Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA). This program consists of a nationwide network to ensure that participants in USDA’s Meat and Poultry Supply Chain initiatives have access to a full-range technical assistance to support their project development and success.
USDA also invested in efforts to strengthen its local and regional food supply chain with the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). LFPP grants support local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer-to-consumer marketing. Projects that receive funding through LFPP focus on activities such as supporting the processing, aggregation, distribution and storage of local and regional food products; developing value-added products; and aiding regional food chain coordination.
Contact USDA Rural Development
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities and areas. Office locations include a state office in Des Moines, along with area offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas in Iowa, call (515) 284-4663 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety, and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal, and high-poverty areas.
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