Opportunity Information: Apply for RD RBS 26 04
The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4 (MPPEP-4), branded as "Fortifying the American Beef Industry," is a competitive grant opportunity run by the USDA Rural Development, Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS). It is funded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), using authority meant to strengthen food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. In practical terms, this round is designed to help existing cattle primary processing businesses expand or modernize what they already have so they can process more animals, run more efficiently, and better serve local and regional supply chains.
USDA is making a total of $60 million available in this phase. That funding is split evenly into two separate competitions: one reserved for Very Small Processors and Small Processors, and a second reserved for Intermediate Processors. Each competition is scored, ranked, and awarded independently, meaning small operators are not competing head-to-head against intermediate-sized operators in the same pool.
Projects must involve expanding or improving existing processing capability, and the program offers two main application tracks. The first is the larger "Processing Expansion Projects" track, with awards from $50,000 up to $2,000,000. These projects can cover a range of activities to increase and diversify meat and poultry processing capacity, including equipment purchases (especially equipment-only purchases over $250,000) and the facility work needed to make that equipment usable, such as improvements, upgrades, renovations, or retrofits to an existing plant. This track comes with a significant cost-share requirement: the applicant must provide a 50% match of the total project cost. The second option is the "Simplified Equipment-Only Projects" track, intended to be more straightforward and smaller in scope, with awards from $10,000 to $250,000. This simplified track can only pay for equipment and cannot include renovation, labor, installation, or certification costs. The cost share is lower here, requiring a 25% match of the total project cost.
Cost share is mandatory across the program, and applicants are expected to spell out exactly where the matching funds will come from and how much will be provided as part of the application. USDA also requires verification of the cost-share funding before a final award is approved, so applicants should be prepared to document that their match is real and committed rather than speculative.
Eligibility is focused tightly on businesses already operating in cattle primary processing. Applicants must be currently engaged in the primary processing of cattle for commercial markets (including toll processing) and must have been in business for at least one year. Eligible applicant types include for-profit organizations, nonprofit organizations, producer-owned cooperatives, Tribes, and Tribal Entities. Privately owned applicants must be independently owned and operated, and all applicants must be domestically owned. The processing facility itself must be physically located and operating in a U.S. state, and it must already be operating under an appropriate inspection regime: an FSIS grant of inspection, a Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) grant of inspection, or a state meat and poultry inspection program that is at least equal to federal inspection standards.
The program also includes several important exclusions meant to prevent duplication of federal support and to avoid subsidizing the largest players. Entities are not eligible if they currently have an active federal award under MPPEP Phases 1, 2, or 3, or if they have an active award under USDA AMS programs including the Local Meat Capacity Grants program or the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant program. "Active" is defined plainly: if the period of performance has not ended, the award is active and the applicant is ineligible. Separately, applicants must meet the size definitions of a Very Small Processor, Small Processor, or Intermediate Processor, and companies considered nationally dominant in beef, pork, chicken, or turkey processing are not eligible. National dominance is described as having a market share greater than or equal to the entity holding the fourth-largest share of the relevant processing market.
Key administrative details from the notice include: the opportunity is a discretionary grant program (CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.381) with an award ceiling of $2,000,000. The funding opportunity number is RD RBS 26 04. The opportunity was created on 2026-05-07, and the stated application closing date is 2026-08-07.Apply for RD RBS 26 04
- The Rural Business-Cooperative Service in the business and commerce, food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program - Phase 4" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.381.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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MPPEP-4 (Fortifying the American Beef Industry) FAQs
What is MPPEP-4 (Fortifying the American Beef Industry)?
MPPEP-4 is a competitive USDA Rural Development grant opportunity run by the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS). This phase is branded as "Fortifying the American Beef Industry" and is focused on helping existing cattle primary processing businesses expand or modernize their current operations to increase throughput, improve efficiency, and strengthen local and regional supply chains.
Which federal agency runs this grant program?
The program is administered by USDA Rural Development, Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS).
What is the funding source and purpose behind MPPEP-4?
MPPEP-4 is funded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), using authority intended to strengthen food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. In practice, this phase supports expansion or modernization of existing cattle primary processing capacity.
How much total funding is available in this phase?
USDA is making a total of $60 million available under MPPEP-4.
How is the $60 million split up for competition purposes?
The funding is split evenly into two separate competitions: one competition reserved for Very Small Processors and Small Processors, and a second competition reserved for Intermediate Processors. Each competition is scored, ranked, and awarded independently.
Does the program separate small operators from intermediate-sized operators during scoring?
Yes. Very Small and Small Processors compete in one pool, while Intermediate Processors compete in a separate pool. The two pools are evaluated and awarded independently.
What types of projects does MPPEP-4 support?
Projects must involve expanding or improving existing processing capability for cattle primary processing operations. The intent is to increase or improve processing capacity and efficiency by expanding or modernizing what a business already has in operation.
What are the two application tracks available under MPPEP-4?
MPPEP-4 offers two main tracks: (1) Processing Expansion Projects and (2) Simplified Equipment-Only Projects.
What is the Processing Expansion Projects track?
The Processing Expansion Projects track supports larger projects that increase and diversify meat and poultry processing capacity, including equipment purchases (with emphasis on equipment-only purchases over $250,000) and the facility work needed to make equipment usable, such as improvements, upgrades, renovations, or retrofits to an existing plant.
What is the award range for Processing Expansion Projects?
Awards for Processing Expansion Projects range from $50,000 to $2,000,000.
Does the Processing Expansion Projects track allow facility renovations or retrofits?
Yes. This track can include facility work needed to make equipment usable, including improvements, upgrades, renovations, or retrofits to an existing plant.
What is the cost-share requirement for Processing Expansion Projects?
This track requires a 50% match of the total project cost from the applicant.
What is the Simplified Equipment-Only Projects track?
The Simplified Equipment-Only Projects track is designed to be more straightforward and smaller in scope. It can fund equipment purchases only.
What is the award range for Simplified Equipment-Only Projects?
Awards for Simplified Equipment-Only Projects range from $10,000 to $250,000.
What costs are not allowed under the Simplified Equipment-Only Projects track?
This simplified track cannot include renovation, labor, installation, or certification costs. It is limited to equipment only.
What is the cost-share requirement for Simplified Equipment-Only Projects?
This track requires a 25% match of the total project cost from the applicant.
Is cost share mandatory for MPPEP-4?
Yes. Cost share is mandatory across the program, and applicants are expected to specify the source and amount of matching funds in the application.
Do applicants need to prove their cost share before receiving an award?
Yes. USDA requires verification of the cost-share funding before a final award is approved, so applicants should be prepared to document that their match is real and committed rather than speculative.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is focused on businesses already operating in cattle primary processing. Applicants must be currently engaged in the primary processing of cattle for commercial markets (including toll processing) and must have been in business for at least one year.
Are toll processors eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes toll processing as part of being engaged in primary processing of cattle for commercial markets.
What types of organizations can apply?
Eligible applicant types include for-profit organizations, nonprofit organizations, producer-owned cooperatives, Tribes, and Tribal Entities.
Are privately owned applicants subject to special ownership requirements?
Yes. Privately owned applicants must be independently owned and operated, and all applicants must be domestically owned.
Does the processing facility have to be located in the United States?
Yes. The processing facility must be physically located and operating in a U.S. state.
Does the facility need to already be operating, or can this fund a new start-up plant?
The program is designed to help existing cattle primary processing businesses expand or modernize what they already have. Eligibility also requires that applicants are currently engaged in primary processing and have been in business for at least one year, indicating the facility must already be operating rather than being a brand-new start-up.
What inspection status must the facility have to be eligible?
The facility must already be operating under an appropriate inspection regime: an FSIS grant of inspection, a Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) grant of inspection, or a state meat and poultry inspection program that is at least equal to federal inspection standards.
Can a facility operating under state inspection qualify?
Yes, if the state meat and poultry inspection program is at least equal to federal inspection standards.
What makes an applicant ineligible due to other federal awards?
Applicants are not eligible if they currently have an active federal award under MPPEP Phases 1, 2, or 3, or if they have an active award under USDA AMS programs including the Local Meat Capacity Grants program or the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant program.
What does "active award" mean for eligibility purposes?
"Active" means the period of performance has not ended. If the period of performance has not ended, the award is considered active and the applicant is ineligible.
Are large, nationally dominant meat companies eligible?
No. Companies considered nationally dominant in beef, pork, chicken, or turkey processing are not eligible.
How does the notice describe "nationally dominant"?
National dominance is described as having a market share greater than or equal to the entity holding the fourth-largest share of the relevant processing market.
Do applicants need to fit within specific processor size categories?
Yes. Applicants must meet the size definitions of a Very Small Processor, Small Processor, or Intermediate Processor to participate in the appropriate competition pool.
Is MPPEP-4 a competitive or non-competitive grant?
It is a competitive grant opportunity, and awards are made based on scoring and ranking within each of the two competition pools.
What is the maximum award amount available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling is $2,000,000.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 10.381.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RD RBS 26 04.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-05-07.
What is the application deadline?
The stated application closing date is 2026-08-07.
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