§473 Grants for Improvements to Meat and Poultry Facilities to Allow for Interstate Shipment

Summary

Gives money to meat and poultry slaughter and processing plants so they can make building and planning changes needed to get inspection that allows interstate shipping. Grants are for plants that are already operating when they apply and that are trying to get federal inspection or to qualify for a cooperative interstate shipment program under the Federal Meat Inspection Act or the Poultry Products Inspection Act. Grants can pay for things like remodeling, new equipment, safer packaging and labeling, meeting safety rules, and developing food-safety processes. Each grant is no more than $200,000. A recipient must pay back the full amount if, within 36 months, it is not inspected or eligible for the interstate program or is not making a real effort to become so. Normally the plant must match the grant with non-federal money equal to the grant, but matching is not required for grants given in fiscal years 2021 and 2022. The government must report yearly (starting within a year of the first grant and continuing through 10 years after the last grant) on who used the grants and their status, and must report recommendations on the interstate program by one year after December 27, 2020. The program has $60,000,000 for fiscal years 2021–2023, available until spent.