Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program

This program will provide funds to Tribal governments as defined by the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act (List Act) of 1994 (Pub. L. No. 103-454), their wholly owned arms and instrumentalities, or joint or multi tribal government entities.

The Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program (Indigenous Animals Grants) is designed to support the priorities Tribal nations have articulated to USDA throughout consultations in 2021 and 2022, including but not limited to support for traditional harvesting methods, indigenous species, and community protein processing operations. The primary purpose of all projects must be to expand or enhance animal protein processing capacity in Indian country.

Tribal governments as defined by the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act (List Act) of 1994 (Pub. L. No. 103-454), their wholly owned arms and instrumentalities, and joint or multi tribal government are eligible to apply. Processing businesses owned by non-Tribal-governmental entities, including individual Tribal members, are not eligible for this program.

The primary purpose of all projects must be to expand or enhance indigenous animals and meat processing capacity in Indian country. Projects can also include other activities as described in the list below. In the project narrative, applicants must describe how the proposed activities will increase animal protein processing capacity, enhance food safety and cleanliness, and increase Tribal food security with a focus on fair and equitable community food distribution. Additionally, the application must include the design and the plan to maintain the long-term viability of the animal processing operation. Applicants should demonstrate a connection to developing adequate animal protein processing infrastructure in a location where such infrastructure is currently inadequate for indigenous species or Tribal community food security. Eligible activities will demonstrate the ability to improve harvesting, processing, and packaging to create a more resilient, diverse, and secure indigenous food systems. Wholistic applications may also include manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, community accessibility, or food (protein) distribution. Applications must include indigenous animals and meat processing activities such as those listed below which clearly demonstrate the ability to expand or enhance protein processing capacity in Indian country. Eligible activities include: 1) Build, expand, or upgrade community indigenous meat, food-sovereignty harvesting/processing facilities (fixed or mobile); 2) Purchase and modernization of an inoperable or outdated processing facility; 3) Enhance infrastructure to improve humane handling and humane slaughter; 4) Purchase and install traditional implements and equipment necessary, with modifications as appropriate, for indigenous slaughter and processing methods' 5) Expand processing capacities to add species or increase volume; 6) Purchase or upgrade mobile harvest and/or processing units and supporting equipment 7) Purchase or upgrade processing and manufacturing equipment (including cutting equipment, mixers, grinders, breaders, sausage stuffers, smokers, curing equipment, pipes, motors, pumps, and valves); 8) Purchase or upgrade cold storage to support the protein processing facilities; 9) Construction of holding pens; 10) Construction of wastewater management structures. See RFA for additional information.

Length of time of the assistance in the request for applications. Funds are advanced or reimbursed. Applicants have up to 3 calendar years to use the funds.

USDA RD only accepts electronic applications which are submitted as specified in the RFA.

Applicants will be reviewed and scored against identified scoring criteria through panel review for high-quality proposals.

RD outlines the application requirements and merit review process in each grant program's RFA. Applicants are required to use the RFA to apply for grant funds. After the application deadline has passed, applications will be reviewed and scored against criteria through panel review for high-quality proposals described in the RFA.

There is a one-year no-cost extension for awardees if needed.

If an application is not selected for funding, the Applicant will be notified in writing via postal or electronic mail and informed of any review and appeal rights. Funding of successfully appealed applications will be limited to available funding.