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# Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program

**Fact Sheet

Grants.gov Posting

##             Overview          

### News & FAQs

**MPILP First Round of Awardees**

Please review the MPILP News Release

**Frequently Asked Questions**

Please review our frequently asked questions resource document.

### What does this program do?

The Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP) provides grant funding to intermediary lenders who finance – or plan to finance – the start-up, expansion, or operation of slaughter, or other processing of meat and poultry. The objective of the MPILP is to strengthen the financing capacity for independent meat processors, and to create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain. 

### What types of intermediaries can apply for this program?

Private nonprofit corporations, public agencies, Tribes, and cooperatives that finance – or  plan to finance – the start-up, expansion, or operation of meat and poultry processing are eligible to apply.

### Who are eligible ultimate recipients?

Businesses engaged, or proposing to engage, in the processing of meat or poultry – either directly, or through agreements with other entities - can apply for a loan from the intermediary lender as an ultimate recipient. Ultimate recipients must:
                                  - Be a business engaged, or proposing to engage, in commercial meat or poultry processing projects; either directly, or through agreements with other entities
                                  - Comply with USDA  Food Safety and Inspection Service requirements , or be custom exempt 

### How can funds be used?

Grant funds to intermediaries can be used to operate and expand meat and poultry processing capacity by supporting activities such as:
                                  - Purchasing and developing land
                                  - Constructing a new facility
                                  - Modernizing or expanding an existing facility
                                  - Developing, installing, or modernizing equipment and technology 
                                  - Improving leaseholds
                                  - Ensuring compliance with occupational and other safety requirements 
                                  - Modernizing equipment or facilities to ensure food safety 
                                  - Refinancing debt
                                  - Purchasing cooperative stock (by individual farmers or ranchers in a farmer or rancher cooperative) 
                                  - Purchasing transferable cooperative stock 
                                  - Making loans to a fund that invests primarily in cooperatives (in accordance with the provisions of the program) 
                                  - Qualifying taxable corporate bonds 
                                  - Paying for feasibility studies for meat and processing facilities 
                                  - Undertaking pollution control and abatement
                                  - Handling waste management
                                  - Offsetting start-up costs, working capital, fees and other expenses related to federal inspection  

### What is the maximum grant amount?

The maximum, aggregate grant award is $15 million, and applicants can apply for funds up to this aggregate amount in more than one cycle. The minimum grant award is $500,000. 

### Are there any other requirements?

Eligible applicants must:
                                  - Have – or plan to develop – capacity and expertise in meat and poultry processing lending
                                  - Have the capacity to conduct outreach and marketing, underwrite loan applications, and provide the servicing and monitoring of the proposed portfolio
                                  - Have the legal authority to carry out the proposed grant purposes, including operating and administering a revolving loan   

### How do I apply?

Check the grants notice at grants.gov.

### Who can answer questions?

Questions can be submitted by email to MPILP@usda.gov.

### What governs this program?

The MPILP is authorized by Section 751 of Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

NOTE: Because citations and other information are subject to change, always consult the program instructions listed in the section above titled “What Governs This Program?” You may also contact your local office for help. You will find additional forms, resources, and program information at rd.usda.gov.USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

##             To Apply          

### Resources

To apply for this program, visit Grants.gov for instructions and application materials. For your convenience, a copy of the application template is included here.  All applicant entities must have a current and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to file an MPILP application. Please reference Sections D and P of the MPILP Request For Application (RFA) for registration instructions.

The Agency will accept applications beginning  May 26, 2022, for the first cycle and November 1, 2022, for the second cycle . The first cycle application window will close on July 25, 2022; the second cycle application window will close on  December 31, 2022. If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the application deadline will be the next business day.  

If you encounter delays registering with SAM.gov, refer to the FAQ. Regardless of your organization’s SAM status, you must submit your full application by the deadline. 

Applicants are encouraged to review the Self-Screening Guide to assess preliminary eligibility for the program.

Please review the Application Checklist to ensure a complete MPILP application is filed. Please review the following documents referenced in the application checklist.
                                  - Application checklist 
                                  - Self-screening guide 
                                  - 1970-B exhibit D
                                  - 1970-A exhibit H
                                  - Application template 
                                  - FAQ
                                  - Environmental Checklist
                                  - MPILP vs FSC comparison
                                  - RBCS How-To Apply Video Series for Applicants

##             Other Requirements          

Prior Agency concurrence is required when an intermediary makes loans to an ultimate recipient from its Agency MPILP grant funds. The request must include information listed in the MPILP Revolving Loan Fund File Checklist here.

There are no other additional requirements.

##             Contact          

To contact Rural Development with more questions about this program by email at MPILP@usda.gov.

##             Events          

### Upcoming Webinars

None at this time.

### Past Webinars

**Second Round Webinar**: Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP) purpose, applicant eligibility, and submittal requirements for a complete application. Second Round Funding.

**Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending (MPILP) :**General program overviewJune 9th: Webinar Slide Deck | Webinar Presentation

**Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending (MPILP)** : This webinar discussed the program's purpose, applicant eligibility, and application processing.June 14th: Webinar Presentation