This is MUCH BIGGER than meat processing, PEOPLE NEED TO PUT FOOD SECURITY INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

Charlie Rankin, host of As A Man Thinketh speaks with Chris Roper and Dave Carter from the Flowerhill Institute about their Meat & Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance (MPPTA) Program.

USDA’s Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity - Technical Assistance (MPPTA) Program ensures that participants in the USDA’s Meat and Poultry Supply Chain programs and initiatives have access to robust technical assistance (TA) to support their project development and success. These supply chain initiatives—including the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) Program and the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP)—support the growth of domestic processing capacity and the ability of independent facilities to serve more customers in more markets.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is investing up to $25 million to establish a nationwide network of technical support focusing on four key areas or scopes:

Federal Grant Application Management:

Navigating federal grants processes and procedures, from pre-award application processes through post-award grant management compliance;

Business Development and Financial Planning:

Business and financial planning resources, market intelligence, and project/concept feasibility analyses;

Meat and Poultry Processing Technical and Operational Support:

Advice and resources to support the operational needs--including workforce development of processing plant development and utilization; and

Supply Chain Development:

Support for the development and maintenance of successful supply chain and marketing relationships between suppliers, processors, distributors, and customers.

In March 2022, AMS identified the following organizations to serve as TA Providers:

American Association of Meat Processors

American Meat Science Association

Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

Flower Hill Institute*

Intertribal Agriculture Council

Oregon State University — Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network

Tuskegee University

*The Flower Hill Institute will also serve as the overall Technical Assistance Coordinator for the MPPTA Program, working closely with AMS and the TA Providers to connect meat and poultry processors, USDA grant applicants, and grant-funded project managers to the resources and expertise best suited to support a project’s needs.

What Does MPPTA Offer?

Access to technical advisors located across the industry, academia, and state and federal governments.

Focused outreach to a diversity of meat and poultry processing stakeholders, including small, rural, minority-owned, Native American, and Tribal-owned businesses, and other underserved groups seeking to build or expand local and regional meat and poultry supply chain capacity.

General assistance with navigating USDA grant application and award processes, and guidance for successful post-award grant project management.

One-on-one advising, including project and proposal reviews tailored to the needs of diverse stakeholders ranging from small and very small businesses to regional concepts and established mid-sized processing companies.

Educational events, webinars, resources, and publications covering topics of interest for meat and poultry processing enterprises of all types.

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