The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded more than $560,000 in grants to boost workforce development and hands-on training in the state’s meat processing industry.
Funding came through the Meat Processing Train and Retain Grant program and the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Meat Education and Training (MEAT) Grant program. The program awarded $341,690 to three organizations to strengthen the workforce for small- and medium-sized processors, supporting employee recruitment, training, and retention through tuition assistance, bonuses, and childcare stipends.
Through the program, $222,360 was awarded in fiscal year 2025 to six Minnesota schools to expand or create meat cutting and butchery training programs. The funding covers equipment, facility upgrades, curriculum development, and faculty training.
Photo Credit: Alabama Cattlemen’s Association
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