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UPDATE Aug. 17, 2022:

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced that 12 meat processors have been awarded a total of nearly $3 million to implement processing efficiencies, expand or construct facilities at existing sites, assist in training and certification, and improve harvest services.

This is the third round of awards made through the Ohio Meat Processing Grant, and they will help businesses in 11 counties. Including the first two rounds, 128 grants have been awarded to Ohio meat processors in 59 of Ohio’s 88 counties, totaling nearly $28 million.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted recently announced additional state support to help strengthen the local meat supply chain and reduce reliance on out-of-state meat processors.

Seventy-five Ohio meat processors will receive grants totaling approximately $15 million to help them expand capacity and meet the growing demand for meat processing services.

Today’s awards are the second round of funding offered through the Ohio Meat Processing Grant Program. Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted, in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly, increased the amount of funding available through this program from $10 million to $25 million in April after the need for grants far exceeded the initial funding amount.

“I’m happy that we’ve now been able to help every qualifying meat processor who applied for assistance,” said Governor DeWine. “Meat processors are essential to ensuring that our grocery stores and restaurants have protein available to feed Ohio families.”

“Meat processors have struggled with the supply chain issues that have also impacted other industries,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “These grants will help meat processors increase productivity, which means they can increase the supply and lower costs for the consumer.”

The DeWine-Husted Administration prioritized the creation of the Ohio Meat Processing Grant Program in the state’s 2022-2023 operating budget, which was passed by the Ohio General Assembly last year. Grant funding will be used to implement processing efficiencies, expand or construct facilities at existing sites, assist in training and certification, and improve harvest services.

Each company will receive a grant of up to $250,000, with half of the funds disbursed before projects are started and the other half awarded after the companies show that the initial funds were spent on eligible costs.

The Ohio Department of Development administered the Ohio Meat Processing Grant Program in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

“We are working to get these funds into the hands of processors as soon as possible,” said Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik. “Ohio’s meat processors are eager to implement their plans to improve operations, and we want to help them get started quickly.”

“Ohio’s meat and poultry processors are a critical component of Ohio’s food and agriculture industry,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda. “These funds will help our processors do a more efficient job at what they do best – provide safe and wholesome products for our consumers.”

The second round of  grants announced total $14,985,237 and will be awarded to meat processors in 45 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Including funds awarded in the first round, meat processors in 53 Ohio counties received grants totaling $24,978,289.