Nebraska Meat and Poultry Industry Receives $55 Million in Federal Support

Earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced an $89 million federal grant at the National Farmers Union Convention in San Francisco.

Under USDA’s Meat and Poultry Intermediate Loan Program, $89 million will be distributed to increase funding available to independent processors, alleviate bottlenecks and create opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs in rural areas. , the USDA said in a news release.

Two Nebraska nonprofits, the Center for Rural Affairs and the Nebraska Enterprise Fund, will each receive $15 million to establish revolving loan funds to fund the start-up, expansion and operation of meat processors.

“Nebraska families and farmers are benefiting from this important investment in the food supply chain,” said Kate Boltz, USDA Nebraska Director, in a news release. “Funding the start-up and expansion of independent meat processing capacity will increase competition, support producer incomes and create economic opportunities for rural communities.”

On Thursday, the USDA announced additional grants. This includes his $25 million to help Wholestone Farms expand its pork processing operations in Fremont.

Managed by USDA Rural Development through its Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, the grant will allow the company to add approximately 112,000 square feet directly connected to its existing facility, including 89,000 square feet of cut floor and 23,000 square feet. Building on foot rendering. The physical expansion doubles the factory’s production capacity to his, allowing Wholestone to add his second shift. That means we need to add nearly 950 workers. This will increase the number of jobs in Fremont to nearly his 2,200.

A representative for Wholestone Farms could not be reached for comment.