USDA Rural Development has announced it is spending money in Montana to increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, expand market opportunities for farmers and support a growing workforce in rural areas.

USDA awarded $77 million through the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP) in 12 states, including one award for $15 million to Mountain West Economic Development in Kalispell, Montana.

This funding will support expansion of processing operations across a four-county area (Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, and Sanders) in the Flathead Valley, according to the Montana Department of Agriculture.

The Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP) provides grant funding to intermediary lenders who finance the start-up, expansion, or operation of independent meat and poultry processing facilities. To date in fiscal year 2023, USDA has awarded $186 million to 24 MPILP projects that supported economic growth in 14 states and Puerto Rico.

Source: Montana Department of Agriculture