Marbleseed will convene stakeholders to identify and develop a comprehensive holistic framework for solving the problem of insufficient meat processing options on a regional scale

IT will connect small meat processors and farmers to ensure access to processing facilities and financial sustainability for the meat supply chain in the region. IT will explore alternative ownership structures for processors that are looking to retire including employeeowned structures and cooperatives to preserve and expand current small meat processing infrastructure and jobs in rural communities. The outcomes will include designing a viable detailed business model and necessary legal structure determining the capital necessary to actualize the plan and working with state agencies to address any regulatory barriers to implementation as a replicable model. The feasibility study and resulting business plan model will be made widely available and adaptable beyond northwest wisconsin as IT addresses an urgent need for small grassbased livestock producers nationally.