Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant | USDA AMS TM MPIRG G 22 0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS TM MPIRG G 22 0001

The Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), designed to help meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities take the practical steps needed to meet inspection requirements and expand their operational reach. The core idea is to support facilities that are either operating under State inspection or currently exempt from Federal inspection so they can make facility improvements and complete planning activities that position them to obtain a Federal Grant of Inspection, or to operate as a State-inspected facility that meets the requirements of the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program. The CIS pathway matters because it allows certain State-inspected establishments to ship products across state lines while still maintaining food safety oversight aligned with the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA).

The opportunity is aimed at a broad range of eligible slaughter and processing entities, with eligibility described as "Others" and clarified within the program materials. In practice, the program is meant to cover a mix of facility types and ownership structures, including commercial businesses and tribal enterprises, among others. The grant is tied to CFDA number 10.180, and it is structured as a standard grant funding instrument rather than a loan or cooperative agreement.

MPIRG focuses on readiness and capacity-building outcomes that strengthen the meat and poultry supply chain, especially at the small and mid-sized level where inspection transitions and infrastructure gaps can be major bottlenecks. The program priorities include improving slaughter and processing capacity and efficiency, which can involve changes that reduce throughput constraints, improve workflow, or address facility limitations that prevent scaling. It also emphasizes developing new markets and expanding existing markets, reflecting the program's interest in helping facilities move beyond purely local sales where appropriate, including by enabling compliance pathways that open interstate commerce opportunities. Another key emphasis is increasing overall capacity to better meet consumer and producer demand, which is especially relevant in regions where limited processing access causes long wait times, higher costs, or lost market opportunities for livestock and poultry growers.

A central theme throughout the grant is maintaining strong inspection and food safety standards. The grant is not just about expanding volume; it is about doing so in a way that aligns with rigorous inspection expectations and supports consistent, compliant operations. Related to that, the program highlights obtaining a larger commercial presence, which typically means helping facilities become more competitive and reliable suppliers by meeting regulatory requirements, improving operational performance, and positioning themselves to serve broader customer bases.

Another explicit priority is improving access to slaughter and processing for producers who are often most affected by limited regional infrastructure. MPIRG specifically calls out smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, historically underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities. In practical terms, this focus signals that projects demonstrating clear benefits to these groups, such as increased appointment availability, reduced travel distances, added species capacity, or improved service reliability, align closely with the program's intent.

From the funding details provided, the opportunity number is USDA AMS TM MPIRG G 22 0001, created March 25, 2022, with an original application closing date of May 24, 2022. The award ceiling listed is $200,000 per award, and the program anticipated up to 200 awards. The activity category is Agriculture, and the agency is USDA AMS.

Overall, MPIRG is a targeted readiness and improvement program for meat and poultry facilities that need to bridge the gap between their current operating status and a higher level of inspection alignment and market access. It is designed to strengthen processing infrastructure, improve efficiency and capacity, and expand market opportunities while keeping food safety and inspection integrity at the center, with a notable emphasis on improving service access for smaller and underserved producer communities.

• The Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.180.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 25, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 24, 2022 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 200 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for USDA AMS TM MPIRG G 22 0001

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