USDA to Invest $57 Million to Boost American Meat Processing Capacity and Support U.S. Ranchers

(Washington, D.C., October 26, 2026) - Today, Vice President J.D. Vance and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announced that ranchers in 40 states are expected to receive $57 million to expand their capacity and create new and better markets through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP).

"President Trump is focused on putting American ranchers first, and we are committed to achieving this vision at USDA. Today's announcement to provide investments in small and medium sized meat processors builds on President Trump's Executive Order "Promoting Fair Competition in Livestock Markets and Expanding Market Access for American Meat Producers," said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. "We are focused on rebuilding the Great American Cattle Herd, and providing more local processing opportunities will continue to give confidence to our ranchers to help us fulfill this goal."

MPPEP is managed by USDA Rural Development's Rural Business-Cooperative Services and pending Congressional allotment, will be investing a total of $57,424,130 in 147 tentative awards across 40 states.

USDA's MPPEP provides grants to help eligible independent processors expand their capacity. USDA Rural Development designed the program to encourage competition and sustainable growth in the United States meat processing sector and improve supply chain resiliency.

Eligible applicants include for‐profit and nonprofit entities, producer-owned cooperatives and corporations, certified benefit corporations, Tribes and Tribal entities, state or local government entities, and other business types (regardless of legal structure). Private entities must be independently owned and operated, and all entities must be domestically owned.

USDA has awarded more than $200 million to independent businesses under the MPPEP program. These projects have created thousands of jobs across the country. Learn more about USDA's investments to strengthen the meat and poultry supply chain at usda.gov/meat.

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