# USDA Funds Minnesota Meat Processing Upgrades

On November 6, 2026, USDA Rural Development announced five Minnesota Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program Phase 4 grants totaling $711,804 for independent processors. The funding supports equipment and facility improvements intended to expand processing capacity, efficiency, food safety, worker safety, and value-added production. These are grant awards, not open procurement solicitations; suppliers may find indirect opportunities to provide processing, refrigeration, packaging, or facility equipment to the recipient businesses, but the announcement specifies no procurement timetable or bid contact.

- Equipment suppliers and contractors serving meat processors can assess whether their offerings align with the funded capacity, safety, and production improvements at the recipient businesses.
- Three listed awards are $250,000 to Lorentz Etc.Inc, $230,459 to Neighbor’s Meats LLC, and $165,063 to South Forty Meat Market LLC; the announcement identifies five recipients overall.
- Because USDA announced grant awards rather than vendor solicitations, businesses should treat any resulting sales as potential recipient-led purchasing, not as a direct USDA contract opportunity.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** November 06, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- USDA Rural Development (USDA RD)
- Rural Business-Cooperative Services

### Vendors
- Callahan Meats Inc (awardee)
- Lorentz Etc.Inc (awardee)
- Bruders Abbatoir LLC (awardee)
- South Forty Meat Market LLC (awardee)
- Neighbor’s Meats LLC (awardee)

### Key Quotes
> These Minnesota MPPEP investments will strengthen processing capacity, creating new opportunities for cattle producers in the state, while increasing access to locally processed products for consumers.
> — Mick Ditlevson, Minnesota State Director, USDA Rural Development

### Sources
- [USDA Invests $700,000 in Minnesota Meat and Poultry Processing Projects | Rural Development](https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/news-release/usda-invests-700000-minnesota-meat-and-poultry-processing-projects) - USDA