Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program 

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 

MPILP’s objective 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, federallyrecognized 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

• In addition to residing in the U.S.,

MPILP ultimate recipients’ projects

must be located in the U.S., as well

• Comply with USDA Food Safety and

Inspection Service requirements

(information available at this link:

https://go.usa.gov/xz755), 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

• Undertaking pollution control and

abatement

• Handling waste management

• Offsetting start-up costs, working

capital, fees, and other expenses

related to federal inspection
 

 

 

MPILP Fact Sheet... continued 

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. No more 

than $10 million in MPILP grant 

funds can be used for any single 

loan. 

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 Notice of Funding Availability 

(NOFA) at https://www.grants.gov/. 

Who can answer questions? 

Questions can be submitted to 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/mpilp 

under the contact tab, or by email 

at MPILP@usda.gov. 

What governs this program? 

The MPILP is authorized by 

Section 751 of Consolidated 

Appropriations Act of 2021, 

available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xtuxW. 

NOTE: Because information is subject to change, always consult official program instructions or contact your local Rural 

Development office for help. A list is available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xzSKbYou. You will find additional resources, 

forms, and program information at https://rd.usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

Last Updated June 2022