Nearly every Wisconsin meat processing plant that applied for the state’s Meat & Poultry Supply Chain Resiliency Grant program is getting funding to modernize or expand.
Ag Secretary Randy Romanski tells Brownfield the 10-million dollar program supplying matching grants to the state’s meat processors prompted small and large processors to apply. “There were a lot of really good applications. Most of the applicants got the exact amount of money that they requested, so the grants are up to $150,000 and that can be a big help for some operations that are trying to make a decision about how and whether or when they might expand.”
Romanski says processors clearly have an interest in modernizing and expanding their facilities after the breakdown in supply chains during the pandemic. “The good news for Wisconsin and Wisconsin’s farmers is that that’s going to build resiliency in the meat supply chain.”
Ninety-one of the ninety-nine applicants will be contracted and get reimbursement grants when the work is done. The money was set aside from American Rescue Act funds by Governor Tony Evers.