Small Farm Fund Finder
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FederalRolling / continuousDirect grantNationwide

Local Meat Capacity Grants (Local MCap)

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service

Equipment-only and processing expansion grants for small meat and poultry processors, including mobile slaughter units and on-farm poultry processing — aimed at farms that cannot get a slaughter date.

Typical award
Equipment-only awards up to $250,000; expansion awards larger
Deadline
Competitive rounds announced by AMS — watch for the next RFA
Type of support
Funding / grants · Processing & value-added
Who can apply
Individual producer, Non-profit, Tribal, Other
Fits these operations
Mixed / diversified, Value-added & food business

Am I eligible?

  • Small or very small meat/poultry processor, or a farm adding processing
  • Project increases slaughter or processing capacity for independent producers
  • Cost-share/match may be required for expansion awards

How to apply

  1. 1Confirm the current RFA terms on the AMS grants page
  2. 2Register in SAM.gov and get a UEI early
  3. 3Get equipment quotes and document current capacity constraints
  4. 4Submit the application before the posted close date

What you'll need

  • SAM.gov UEI and registration
  • Equipment quotes and facility plans
  • Current throughput data and producer letters of support
  • Inspection status documentation (USDA, state, custom-exempt)

Timeline & contact

4–8 months from close to award
Get help: USDA AMS grants division; state meat inspection program

Ready to apply?

Applications go through USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, not through this site. Open the official page below for eligibility rules, forms, and contacts. For federal programs it's worth calling your local USDA Service Center or Cooperative Extension office first — they help with paperwork for free and know what your county actually funds.

Open official page

This listing was last hand-checked August 2026.

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Meat & Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP)

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Apply through a participating intermediary lender

Low-cost loans made through local intermediary lenders to start, expand, or modernize small meat and poultry processing. Ask your state's intermediary lender who is participating.

  • Open nationwide — check for state-level ranking or set-asides
  • Individual farmers, ranchers, and farm businesses may apply

Varies by intermediary lender

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Official pageFull detailsChecked August 2026
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Meat & Poultry Processing Technical Assistance (MPPTA)

USDA AMS / Flower Hill Institute

Request assistance any time

Free help for small processors and producers building processing capacity: business planning, USDA inspection and HACCP readiness, facility design, and help applying to USDA processing grants.

  • Open nationwide — check for state-level ranking or set-asides
  • Individual farmers, ranchers, and farm businesses may apply

Free

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Official pageFull detailsChecked August 2026
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Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program

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Rolling through participating lenders

Loan guarantees for aggregation, processing, cold storage, distribution, and other middle-of-the-supply-chain projects. Your bank applies; the guarantee makes larger facility deals financeable.

  • Open nationwide — check for state-level ranking or set-asides
  • Individual farmers, ranchers, and farm businesses may apply

Up to $40 million guaranteed

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Official pageFull detailsChecked August 2026