Meat Processing Train and Retain Grant

Meat Processing Train and Retain Grant is sponsored by Minnesota Department of Agriculture. This grant program offers funding to partner organizations to assist small- to medium-sized meat and poultry processors with hiring and training new employees.

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The Meat Processing Train and Retain Grant offers funding to partner organizations to assist small- to medium-sized meat and poultry processors with hiring and training new employees. For this grant, we define small- to medium-sized meat and poultry processors as those that: Are licensed by the state of Minnesota or the federal government, and Have fewer than 150 employees.

Eligibility and funding priorities Eligible partner organization applicants include: Foundations engaged in economic development Community development financial institutions Federally recognized economic development districts Community development corporations This program prioritizes: Partner organizations working in cooperation with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Partner organizations whose efforts would target or serve meat or poultry processing operations that are in distressed communities, based on the Economic Innovation Group's Distressed Communities Index (DCI) . Funding from this program can be used for expenses such as: Signing and retention bonuses for new hires Employee relocation assistance See the request for proposals (RFP) for more information on eligible expenses.

We expect to award up to $350,000 using a competitive review process. Awards will range from $10,000 to $250,000. No processor may receive more than $50,000 from this grant.

No employee may receive more than $10,000 through this grant. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2026. The application period for this program closed on April 28, 2025.

Details on this page and in the FY25 Meat Processing Train & Retain RFP (PDF) apply to the past round of funding. Contact us if you need this information in an alternative format. Meat Processing Train & Retain Grant Q&A We will accept program questions until 4 p.

m. CT on April 21, 2025 , and will post all questions and answers on this page. Would processor employees be able to attend meat cutting/butchery classes out-of-state?

Would the course tuition be eligible expenses? Yes, employees could attend out-of-state courses. The tuition expenses would be eligible.

However, partnership with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is prioritized in the application process. Are meat and poultry processors that make pet food as their end product eligible for funds from the applying organization? If the processor is producing edible meat and poultry products, they would be eligible to receive funds from the applicant organization.

This means the processor must be subject to Minnesota “Equal to” or USDA inspection, hold a custom exempt permit, or be considered retail exempt. Who is considered a "new" employee? Meat processing employees who are hired June 15, 2025, and after would be eligible to receive funds from the applicant organization, unless the grant contract is executed earlier.

Who is subject to the review and audit by the MDA? The applicant organization/grantee would be subject to the pre-award financial risk assessment (if the grant award is $50,000 or greater).

The grantee’s books, records, documents, and accounting procedures and practices of the grantee or other party that are relevant to the grant or transaction are subject to examination by the MDA, the Department of Administration, and either the legislative auditor or state auditor, as appropriate ( MINN. STAT. 16B.

98, subd. 8 ). Is the Train and Retain Grant open to entities outside of Minnesota?

As stated on page 3 of the Train and Retain RFP, projects must be conducted in Minnesota to be eligible. Participating meat and poultry processors must be located in Minnesota and licensed by the state of Minnesota. What are administrative costs?

Are sign-on bonuses and housing relocation assistance considered administrative costs? Administrative costs are costs incurred by the partner organization (grant applicant) so it can perform work on the grant. For example, part of the grant coordinator’s salary or office space rental could be considered administrative costs.

Sign-on bonuses and housing relocation assistance for meat processor employees are not administrative costs. Partner organizations must agree to minimize administrative costs as a condition of the grant. The MDA expects that applicants request to use no more than 10% of the total award for administrative costs, but the MDA will consider reasonable costs more than this amount.

All anticipated administrative costs must be justified in the proposal. Who is eligible for childcare stipends? Childcare stipends are for new meat processor employees who may need financial assistance with childcare.

Eligible expenses such as childcare stipends, employee relocation assistance, tuition reimbursement, etc. are intended for new meat processor employees only. Expenses that incentivize current employees, the meat processor owner, etc., are not eligible. See pages 3-4 of the Train and Retain RFP for more information.

Are grocery stores that lease space in slaughterhouses or meat processing facilities, but are not licensed as meat processing businesses, eligible for this program? No. The grant is intended for partner organizations to assist small- to medium-sized meat and poultry processors with hiring and training new processing employees. Grocery stores looking for future grant opportunities may consider exploring the Good Food Access Program .

Ag Marketing & Development MDA. AGRIGrants@state. mn.

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