"Meat Processing Infrastructure Program Projects Approved"

"I am happy to share the news that grant agreements for the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food’s Meat Processing Infrastructure Program (MPIP) were approved at the May 3rd Governor and Council meeting and eight projects will soon be underway.

$750,000 dollars was provided for the program through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State Fiscal Recovery Funds (SFRF) to provide funding for infrastructure investments in meat and poultry processing facilities in New Hampshire. The goal of the program is to support increased capacity, labor saving efficiencies, and encourage value-added products, bolstering access to and the resiliency of our local food system.

The grant Request for Proposals resulted in 14 applications requesting over $1.4 Million, nearly twice as much as the available funding. Applications were then reviewed and evaluated by a diverse selection committee who had the tough job of making awards within the constraints of available funds. All projects have a 15% matching funds requirement. The following eight projects were approved to proceed.

Montshire Packing, North Haverhill
Awarded: $200,000
This project includes equipment and facilities infrastructure upgrades to triple processing capacity in the next five years from 3,000 beef animals a year to 9,000. Montshire Packing is a USDA inspected facility and a new business to New Hampshire, taking over operations of a previously existing facility.

East Conway Beef & Pork, Conway
Awarded: $198,550
This project includes a series of equipment purchases to increase capacity, labor efficiency, and add more value- added products to the USDA inspected facility. This business is in the process of rebuilding after a fire leveled the building in April of 2022.

Granite State Packing, Claremont
Awarded: $200,000
This project is part of a much larger investment in a new business to New Hampshire. Granite State Packing will use the funds to purchase and install an industry standard retail meat packaging system to increase capacity and competitiveness of New Hampshire pork products.

New England Wagyu, Center Barnstead
Awarded: $59,473
This project is part of a larger investment in building renovation and expansion, new equipment, and retail space, adding capacity to the USDA inspected facility and creating a new access point for local meat.

CJEJ Farm, Columbia
Awarded: $51,876.45
This project includes equipment and facilities infrastructure upgrades to increase capacity, add more value-added products, and increase worker safety and animal handling procedures. CJEJ Farm serves a vital region of the state with custom exempt slaughter and custom butchering services.

Flying M Farm, Fremont
Awarded: $17,765
This project will increase poultry processing capacity, logistics and biosecurity through the purchase of industry standard walk-in coolers and animal handling equipment/ infrastructure.

Tellman Hill Farm, Whitefield
Awarded: $13,835
This project includes poultry processing equipment to add capacity, labor efficiency, and biosecurity to allow for a mobile poultry processing operation. A mobile poultry processing option is a priority need for New Hampshire farmers.

The Horizon Farm, Bennington
Awarded: $8,500
This project aims to increase capacity for processing beef cattle and pigs by 30% and 50% respectively through labor saving efficiencies in cutting and packaging."

Josh Marshall, Director Division of Agricultural Development