The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded $250,000 to the Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC) to support the organization’s Southwest Minnesota Meat Processor Workforce Development Initiative.
Awarded through the MDA’s Meat Processing Train & Retain Grant program, the one-time funding will assist small- to medium-sized meat and poultry processors with hiring and training new employees.
“Local meat processing facilities play a central role in sustaining Minnesota’s livestock industry as well as our rural economies and communities,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “The MDA is thankful to the SRDC for their efforts to grow and strengthen the meat processing workforce in southwest Minnesota, and we look forward to future opportunities to support similar efforts in all areas of the state.”
The SRDC will leverage the grant funds to collaborate with partner organizations to train and hire employees, address barriers to employment, and provide direct and supportive services to new employees. The project aims to support approximately 45 small- to medium-sized processors in the SRDC’s service area.
“The Southwest Regional Development Commission and its project partners are thrilled to launch this project, which has the potential to meet immediate workforce needs and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the vital food industry,” said SRDC Deputy Director Robin Weis. “The SRDC is eager to be part of this initiative, which aims to invest in 30 individuals by providing support for training gaps, both formal and on-the-job, offering unique retention strategies, and minimizing employment barriers.”
For more information about the Meat Processing Train & Retain Grant, visit the MDA website.
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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us
Applications will soon open for the latest round of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Soil Health Financial Assistance Program grants.
The grants are available to individual producers, producer groups, and tribal and local governments to purchase or retrofit soil health equipment. Grant awards will provide up to 50% cost-share, with a minimum award of $500 and a maximum award of $45,000. The 2024 Legislature appropriated $2.375 million for grants statewide, along with an additional $495,000 available for grants in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona counties. The MDA will begin accepting applications August 1.
"Specialized, expensive equipment can be a barrier for farmers wanting to implement soil health practices, so it’s important we invest in programs like the Soil Health Financial Assistance Program grants,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “The soil health benefits we see to water quality and our other natural resources go beyond a farm’s border and can have a positive impact on many Minnesotans.”
Examples of eligible new or used equipment include, but are not limited to, no-till drills, air seeders, strip tillage units, and more.
The Request for Proposals and the application link can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/soilhealthgrant once the application opens on August 1. Applications are due August 30, 2024. Awards will be announced by January 1, 2025.
This is the third round of Soil Health Financial Assistance Program grants. The second round awarded over $2.3 million to 81 individuals and organizations across Minnesota. No-till drills, air seeders, and strip tillage equipment were among the most requested pieces of equipment. The second round received more than 280 applications for more than $8.4 million – over 3.5 times the funding available.
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Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us
