The U.S. Department of Agriculture has grants for two Kansas communities that will improve infrastructure to strengthen food supply chains, increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, and lower food costs.
The investments are being made through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) as part of a larger national announcement that includes projects in 14 other states.
The two Kansas projects are:
- A $2,445,654 grant will help build a new USDA-inspected beef and hog processing facility for Top End LLC dba TEAM Processing of Kanorado. The western Kansas facility will provide fee-for-service processing to over 50 local producers, including offering Organic Certification and processing of non-amenable species such as buffalo and yak, so producers can access new and better markets. TEAM processing will also offer on-site retail for local consumers. The project is expected to create 19 new jobs.
- A $6,871,380 grant will help construct, equip, and obtain a grant of inspection for a slaughter and fabrication facility, serving an estimated 100 producers in Kansas and Missouri, for Real Kansas Meats LLC of Fall River, in Greenwood County. The project is expected to create 117 new full-time jobs.
