Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced the launch of the Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Grant program.
Small-scale meat processors and custom lockers are encouraged to submit proposals to expand meat processing capacity within Iowa. This grant is part of Choose Iowa, the state’s branding and marketing program designed to identify and promote Iowa grown, raised and made ag products. The grant is administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
Proposed projects should support job creation and expanding meat processing capacity within Iowa. Grants are intended for smaller-scale facilities, and awarded projects should create processing, storage and meat transportation efficiencies. Eligible projects, for example, may include the purchase and installation of equipment used in the processing or storage of meat products, including refrigerators, freezers, meat processing equipment, packaging equipment, mobile harvest units and more. Grant dollars may also be used to restructure existing facilities to increase efficiency or aid in the construction of a new or expanded facility.
Plans for review by CIRAS must be submitted directly to CIRAS at ciras.grants@iastate.edu by Feb. 21. Choose Iowa grant applicants should submit both their original project plan and the revised plan with their application. Final applications should be submitted through the online portal on the Choose Iowa website by noon March 31. Questions about the Butchery Innovation Grant or the Choose Iowa marketing program and member benefits may be emailed to chooseiowagrant@iowaagriculture.gov.
