S105 - 2021 Appropriations Act. (SL 2021-180)

Overview: Section 10.7 of S.L. 2021-180 directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Department) to provide grants to small and independent meat and seafood processors for expansion, facility improvements, and workforce development. No more than 35% of the funds may be used for grants to seafood processors and no more than $2 million total may supplement grants previously awarded to reflect construction cost inflation. The Department may provide three categories of grants:

• Capacity enhancement grant: May be awarded to an eligible meat or seafood processing facility to expand an existing eligible facility and for fixtures or equipment to expand animal throughput, processing capacity, type of products produced, or processing speed. These grants may not exceed $500,000 per grant.
• Workforce development grant: May be awarded to an eligible meat or seafood processing facility experiencing labor-related slowdowns for educational and workforce training provided either by the facility or by an accredited institution of higher education. These grants may not exceed $100,000 per grant.
• Planning grant: May be awarded to a nonprofit entity or institution of higher education for feasibility or siting studies for a new eligible meat processing facility. No more than 5% of total available funds may be used for these grants.

This section became effective July 1, 2021.