STATEHOUSE (Oct. XX, 2020) – State Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) encourages local and small meat-processing agribusinesses directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for a new grant to help offset costs.
Indiana recently received $4 million in federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funding for the Indiana Meat Processing Expansion and Development Grant Program. Projects should aim to improve food supply resilience through increasing slaughter, expanding meat processing capacity and/or promoting worker safety.
"Meat processing workers and the entire industry had to adapt and make changes to protect their products and themselves because of COVID-19," VanNatter said. "They worked extremely hard to find alternative ways to work and get their products out to consumers. This funding will go a long way in recuperating some of the expenses it took to make all that possible over the last several months."
According to VanNatter, the grant program is available to businesses with fewer than 500 employees, and at least one federal or BOAH-regulated livestock processing or slaughter facility located in Indiana. Grantees must demonstrate how they were negatively impacted by COVID 19 and how they will use this funding.
The program will reimburse up to 50% of eligible expenses, with a maximum award of $150,000. Per federal guidance, grants would only reimburse eligible costs incurred from March 1, 2020, through Dec. 30, 2020. Some of the eligible expenses may include, facility reconfiguration including labor and materials for changes necessary to meet social distancing guidelines, costs associated with COVID-19 sanitation and worker safety, and rental of facilities or equipment necessary to expand capacity or facilitate social distancing.
VanNatter said to visit in.gov/isda for more information and to apply before the Oct. 19 deadline.
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State Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) represents House District 38,
which includes portions of Carroll, Cass, Howard and Clinton counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
