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. These funds will address needs for local animal protein processing capacity in Tribal communities and indigenous foods supply chains.

Active 10.384 Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Department of Agriculture B - Project Grants Not applicable. This section directs the Secretary to make loans and grants and provide other assistance to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency., Title American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Part TITLE 1 – COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY Subtitle A - Agriculture, Section Sec. 1001. Food supply chain and agriculture pandemic response. Not applicable. 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. Those individuals and businesses may apply to other USDA funding opportunities, such as those published at https://www.usda.gov/meat. A grant is entered between AMS and the eligible entity that submits an application and is selected. OMB Guidance for Grants Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 400 applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. USDA RD only accepts electronic applications which are submitted as specified in the RFA. Please refer to the RFA for further details for submitting applications, which will be available via Grants.gov. Any specific instructions in the RFA's supersede the general information provided in the assistance listing database. 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. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 30 to 60 days. From 15 to 30 days. 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. USDA anticipates that there will be no available funds for successful appellants once once all FY 2023 funds, if available, are awarded and obligated. More than 180 days. There is a one-year no-cost extension for awardees if needed. Applicants will be reviewed and scored against identified scoring criteria through panel review for high-quality proposals. 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. Applications. More information can also be found at www.ams.usda.gov/grants, www.usda.gov/meat, and Performance Reports: Progress, performance and financial reports are required. A final performance and financial report are required within 120 days after the expiration date of the grant period. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR ? 200.503 For each year that a State receives a grant under this section, the State shall conduct an audit of the expenditures of grant funds by the State in accordance with 2 CFR ? 200, Subpart F- Audit Requirements. This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General. Recipients must retain all records (including financial) relating to grant for a period of three years after the final Federal Financial Report (SF - 425) is received by RD or until final resolution of any audit findings or litigation claims relating to this program. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. 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. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: See www.ams.usda.gov/grants for grant agreement award terms and conditions to obtain information on how assistance is awarded/released. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Lump. RBCS, USDA RD 1400 Independence Ave SW, RM 1510-S Washington, DC 20250 Christine Kimball
Room 5817-S, Stop 3220
Washington, DC 202503220 USA
Christine.kimball@usda.gov
Phone: 413-253-4329 https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs 12-0408-1-2-605 (Project Grants) FY 22 Estimate Not Available FY 23 est $48,089,048.00; FY 24 Estimate Not Available - There are no minimum or maximum funding levels for applications submitted for this program. Additional information can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/grants, www.usda.gov/meat, www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs Not applicable.