(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted today 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.
“We wanted to make sure that all meat processors in the state had an opportunity to benefit from this grant program, so we allocated more funding,” said Governor DeWine. “These grants don’t just benefit the processors. They also benefit Ohio families who will find more meat products available to them at the store.”
“These grants help food processors invest in new machinery and technology that can deliver more food, less expensively,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “This results in a new level of productivity that benefits the consumer with lower prices, business with more production, and the workforce with higher pay.”
The DeWine-Husted Administration prioritized the creation of the Ohio Meat Processing Grant Program in the state's 2022-23 operating budget, which was passed by the Ohio General Assembly last year.
The grants are administered by the Ohio Department of Development in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Each company will receive a grant of up to $250,000, with half 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.
“We want to ensure these businesses have the opportunity to grow and prosper,” said Development Director Lydia Mihalik. “These grants enable our state’s meat processors to make advancements and improve efficiencies faster, so Ohio consumers see the results in stores sooner.”
“Ohio’s meat and poultry producers are an incredibly significant part of the chain that makes up Ohio’s safe, wholesome, and abundant food supply,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda. “These grants have played a critical role in helping processors provide the best and safest products as quickly as possible to help meet growing consumer demand.”
To access lists of recipients from the first two rounds, click here. For more information about the grant, visit Development.Ohio.Gov/MeatProcessing.