HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Sen. Elder Vogel (R-47) to make necessary updates to Pennsylvania’s Very Small Meat Processor Federal Inspection Reimbursement Grant Program has been signed into law.
The grant program was enacted as part of the 2019 Pennsylvania Farm Bill to provide funding for the start-up costs associated with meeting federal inspection and certification guidelines for very small meat processors, defined by the 2019 law as entities with sales of less than $2.5 million and less than ten employees, either in existence or that plan to meet such criteria once established.
Unfortunately, only one round of grants has been awarded and the program is currently stagnant.
Senate Bill 1236, now Act 52 of 2022, makes several updates to the program, including the expansion of the reimbursement grant eligibility beyond federal certification and clarification of what costs are eligible for reimbursement and the corresponding documentation and reporting necessary to be reimbursed for a project.
Additionally, the program is renamed the “Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant Program” to accurately reflect grant eligibility.
“Ultimately, the goal of the updated grant program, in general, is to increase meat and poultry processing capabilities in Pennsylvania,” said Vogel.
CONTACT: Cara Laudenslager claudenslager@pasen.gov