The Livestock Investment Grant is a grant, to a person or entity who raises livestock in Minnesota, for the purposes of improving or expanding livestock production in Minnesota. It will award 10% of a project with a minimum expense of $4,000 and a maximum expense of $500,000.

Minnesota residents are eligible. All livestock species are eligible. $1 million is available for the program operations and grants.

The grant covers:

• The acquisition, construction, or improvement of buildings or facilities for the production of livestock or livestock products;
• The acquisition of equipment for livestock housing, confinement, feeding, and waste management;
• The development of pasture for use by livestock.

Except for qualifying pasture development expenditures, qualifying expenditures only include amounts that are allowed to be capitalized and deducted under federal income tax rules (section 167 or 179 of the Internal Revenue Code). Qualified expenditures do not include an amount paid to refinance existing debt or for livestock animals.

Grant applications must be postmarked no later than November 30, 2009.