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Butchery Innovation and Revitalization Program

Growth Programs

Assisting the Expansion, Renovation & Establishment of Butchery Facilities

The Butchery Innovation and Revitalization Fund, administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), was created in 2021. The fund provides financial assistance in the form of grants to businesses for projects relating to small-scale meat processing, licensed custom lockers and mobile slaughter units.

For Fiscal Year 2024, the State of Iowa appropriated $1,000,000 to IEDA with direction to administer these funds for continuation of the program.

The Butchery Innovation and Revitalization application process is now open.

To learn more about the program and application process, view the recorded Butchery Application Overview webinar here.

An assessment provided by the Center for Industrial Research & Service (CIRAS) must be submitted before applying for this grant program. The deadline to submit the CIRAS Assessment is March 7, 2024.

The IEDA butchery grant application period is February 15 - April 18. See the "How Do I Apply" section below for further details.

Types of Eligible Projects

  • Expanding, refurbishing an existing, or establishing a new business in the areas of:
    • State inspected or federally inspected small-scale meat processing business
    • Licensed custom locker
    • Mobile slaughter unit
  • Renting or purchasing buildings, refrigeration facilities, freezer facilities or equipment necessary to expand processing capacity. This includes projects for:
    • Mobile slaughter or refrigeration units used exclusively for meat or poultry processing by a federally inspected, small-scale meat processing business
    • Licensed custom lockers
    • Mobile slaughter units
    • State inspected small-scale meat processing business

Grant Requirements

  • Maximum grant award to a business shall not exceed $100,000
  • Matching financial support on a one-to-one basis in the form of cash will be required (must be obtained from private sources)

Eligibility

Businesses applying for the grant program must first complete a CIRAS assessment (available Feb. 1) and meet all requirements outlined in Iowa Code Section 15E.370 as well as administrative rules. Requirements include that the business must be:

  • Incorporated or authorized to do business in Iowa
  • Employ less than 75 individuals
  • An establishment that holds a current license from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) or an establishment that documents it is actively working with IDALS to obtain a license (per IDALS/Meat & Poultry Inspection Service, Iowa Code Section 189A)
Review/Approval Process
  • Grant program committee will evaluate the applications and provide a numerical score and recommendation to the IEDA Board.
  • IEDA Board will consider recommendations at its monthly meetings.
  • Applications approved by the IEDA Board will be notified in writing.
  • If funds are still available following the first application process, a second application period will be announced.

Step 1: An assessment provided by CIRAS must be completed before applying for the butchery grant program. CIRAS will provide a feedback report, which is required as part of the IEDA grant application.

  • Fill out a CIRAS Assessment form 
  • Submit the form to ciras.grants@iastate.edu.

The deadline for submitting the CIRAS Assessment form is March 7, 2024.

 

Step 2: The IEDA butchery grant application is now open. After receiving your CIRAS Assessment report, the grant application can begin. The deadline for submitting applications is April 18, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.
Click here to complete the IEDA Butchery Grant Application.

  • You will need to attach both your CIRAS Assessment form and the follow-up CIRAS report to the butchery grant application.
  • The IEDA application is online only and must be completed in a single session.
  • Refer to the Butchery Application Sample Form under the Resources section to prepare in advance.
  • An automated response will be sent to verify the application was received.
 

View the recorded Butchery Application Overview webinar to learn more about the program and application process.

For more information, contact:

Brad Frisvold

515.348.6241
businessfinance@iowaeda.com
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