INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Indiana State Department of Agriculture awarded $4 million to 41 Indiana meat processing businesses through the Indiana Meat Processing Expansion & Development Grant Program. This funding was allocated to offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on local and small meat-processing agribusinesses in Indiana.

Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch said, “These grants will address issues caused by COVID-19 and help meet consumer demands in both normal and emergency situations.”

With a 50% cash match requirement for this grant opportunity, a total of at least $8 million will be invested in the Indiana small meat processing economy as a result of the grant program. Funding was made available through Indiana’s allocation of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) dollars.

The 41 awarded meat processors are Hoosier businesses with less than 500 employees.

Among the 41 recipients were two LaGrange businesses, Brushy Prairie Packing receiving just over $118-thousand dollars, and Butcher Bob’s receiving $20-thousand dollars.

D & D Meat of Corunna received $150-thousand dollars.

Yoder’s Meat and Cheese of Shipshewana received $150-thousand dollars.

The application process showed the industry had a significant need with 60 applicants and a total of $6.8 million in funding requests.