The Choose Iowa Butchery, Innovation, and Revitalization Grant Program, managed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), offers up to $100,000 in grants to support the enhancement of Iowa’s meat processing industry. Designed to promote growth and innovation, this program requires businesses to provide a one-to-one financial match and meet strict eligibility criteria.
To qualify, businesses must:
- Hold an IDALS or USDA license or actively work toward obtaining one.
- Employ fewer than 75 full-time, non-seasonal employees.
- Have a clean regulatory record, free from any enforcement actions related to federal, state, or local environmental, worker safety, food processing, or food safety laws, rules, or regulations within the past five years (per Iowa Code Section 15E.370(4) “b”).
Eligible projects may include creating new jobs, expanding processing capacity, or upgrading infrastructure. All projects must be located in Iowa, begin only after the grant is awarded, and be completed within 12 months.
Application Process
A CIRAS Butchery Assessment is required as part of the application process. The assessment helps applicants refine their project plans and must be submitted to Ben Drescher at CIRAS by February 21, 2025. Feedback will be provided by March 14, 2025, allowing applicants to incorporate suggestions into their final submission. Final project plans must be included with the Choose Iowa application, due by March 31, 2025, at Noon CST.
Key Dates:
- January 8, 2025: CIRAS Assessment opens.
- February 3, 2025: Choose Iowa Grant applications open.
- February 21, 2025: CIRAS Assessment submission deadline.
- March 14, 2025: CIRAS feedback provided to applicants.
- March 31, 2025, at Noon CST: Choose Iowa Grant application deadline.
- April 2025: Applications are scored.
- May 2025: Recipients are notified, grant agreements are issued and signed, and funds are reimbursed during the grant term.
This program offers an exciting opportunity for Iowa’s meat processors to grow and innovate while contributing to the state’s agricultural economy.
A recorded webinar about the grant program, hosted by CIRAS and Choose Iowa, is available for viewing.
For additional details, visit the Choose Iowa website or contact Ben Drescher at bdresche@iastate.edu or 515-509-0940 or Maria Drevet at maria.drevet@iowaagriculture.gov or 515-444-9011.