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Utah Food Security Processing Grant

2023 Application Window Opens May 1 – 31, 2023

The Utah Legislature during the 2022 General Session, appropriated $1,000,000 to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food to provide grants to small meat, poultry, and fruit and vegetable processors to make immediate impacts to processing capacity. The first year of the program was a great success and we are happy to report that $1,000,000 of additional funding was appropriated during the 2023 General Session as well. Similar to last year, UDAF is again seeking applicants who plan to increase their processing capacity to meet current demand, protect the security of the food supply, and help ensure Utah produced food is processed in-state. The program will reimburse processors a portion of expenses to expand existing facilities. Grant amounts will be dependent on the total amount of eligible applications received and approved. A $200,000 maximum award has been added.

Eligibility: 

Applicants must be licensed or registered processors located in Utah with fewer than 100 employees who are planning expanding a facility that meets one of the following criteria: 

  • State-inspected “equal to” slaughter and/or processing plant,
  • Licensed custom-exempt slaughter plant, 
  • Talmadge-Aiken (TA) or very small federally inspected plant,
  • dairy processor using milk produced in Utah, 
  • Fruit or vegetable processor that use fruits and vegetables that are grown, processed, and sold in Utah, or
  • Other food processor using raw agricultural products such as nuts, grains, legumes, etc. that are grown, processed, and sold in Utah and intended for human consumption. 

Applicants should understand that reimbursement amounts are based upon the applicable and reasonable project costs they provide.  Reimbursement will be provided up to the amount requested in the approved grant application, based on documented invoices or receipts that are provided to the Department.

Eligible expenses must make an immediate impact on the state’s capacity to process or store Utah raised protein or Utah grown products including beef, pork, poultry, lamb, bison, fruit, vegetables, etc. Reimbursements will require actual or copies of receipts, expenses, or invoices. 

 

Eligible expenses may include, but are not limited to:

  • Coolers/freezers 
  • Contractor costs (plumbing, draining, venting, electrical work) 
  • Portion cutters 
  • Processing equipment (smoking units, sausage stuffers, etc.) 
  • Slaughter equipment (cradles, saws, hooks, scalders, sinks, etc.) 
  • Equipment or facilities to hold livestock (fences, gates, chutes, etc.) 
  • Electronic sorting equipment (e.g. grading and sizing for apples, cherries, or peaches)
  • Bottling equipment for juices

Expenses not eligible for reimbursement include salaries, fringe, supplies, and parts.

To apply: 

Complete the application form below and submit to foodsecuritygrant@utah.gov by 11:59pm Tuesday, May 31, 2023 or send by mail to:

Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
Food Security Processing Grant Program
PO Box 146500
Salt Lake City, UT 84114

Additional Documents:

Applications are due by Wednesday May 31, 2023 and awards will be announced by June 30, 2023. For questions, please call (385) 977-2147 or email foodsecuritygrant@utah.gov.

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