Mississippi State University was awarded a $199,940 project grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grants – Supplemental Funding program. The grant will support upgrades to the university's poultry processing plant to obtain federal inspection and improve processing capabilities and training capacity over a three year period. Funding will be used to purchase essential equipment and hire part-time staff for the plant. The university aims to establish a federally inspected plant that can conduct Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point and USDA inspector training programs while increasing processed product volume. It is expected the upgraded facility will be self-sustaining and better positioned to support the poultry industry and federal agencies through expanded processing and training activities.