Meat Education and Training Grant

Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)

Predicted deadline: Mar 9, 2024 2:00pm PST

Grant amount: US $5,000 - US $70,000

Funding uses: Project / Program, Education / Outreach, Training / Capacity Building

Location of project: Minnesota

Location of residency: Minnesota

Overview:

Background

The Meat Education and Training (MEAT) Grant Program is a competitive funding opportunity for Minnesota secondary career and technical education programs (public or private schools or school districts) seeking to establish or enhance meat cutting and butchery training for secondary students. Grants fund equipment, facility renovation, curriculum development, and faculty training for new and established meat cutting programs. Priority will be given to applicants that collaborate with meat cutting and butchery programs at Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities (Minnesota State) or local industry partners. This grant program is funded through a onetime appropriation by the Minnesota Legislature and is administered by the Agricultural Marketing and Development Division, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).

Outcomes

Grant outcomes will include:

• Increased number of Minnesota students obtaining knowledge and skills to enter a career in the meat processing industry.
• Increased opportunities for Minnesota students to access training in meat cutting and butchery.
  

Funding Availability

The MDA anticipates awarding approximately $350,000 using a competitive review process. Applicants may request a minimum of $5,000 and a maximum of $70,000 per project; up to 10% of each grant may be used for faculty training. Schools are not required to contribute matching funds. We expect 5 to 10 grants will be awarded, but the final number depends on the size of awards.

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.

Eligibility:

• Eligible Applicants
  • Public or private schools or school districts in Minnesota that seek to establish or enhance meat cutting and butchery training for secondary students (Grades 6 through 12, unless otherwise designated by the school district).
  • Applicants must be in good standing with the State of Minnesota.
    • No back taxes owed.
    • No defaults on Minnesota state-backed financing for the last seven years.
    • Acceptable performance on past state grants.
  • School districts may collaborate with other districts on an application but should clearly identify the lead applicant that will have the grant contract agreement with the MDA.
• Eligible Projects and Expenses
  • Projects must:
    • Establish or enhance meat cutting and butchery training for secondary students.
    • Not start until the grant contract is signed by all parties and has reached its start date.
    • Be completed by June 30, 2024, so that meat cutting and butchery training is available to students by Fall 2024.
    • Be conducted in Minnesota.
  • Project examples include but are not limited to:
    • Purchase of equipment required for a meat cutting program (e.g., refrigeration units, tables, saws, knives, cleaning and sanitizing equipment)
    • Contractor costs and materials for installation of approved equipment, including plumbing, drainage, venting, and electrical work
    • Facility renovation to accommodate meat cutting
    • Purchase of livestock and livestock products for instructional use
    • Curriculum development for new or enhanced meat cutting program
    • Licensing and permitting costs required for new or enhanced meat cutting program (expenses must be incurred and paid during the grant period)
    • Training faculty to teach the fundamentals of meat processing may be included as a project component and is limited to 10% of grant
      

Preferences:

• This grant will prioritize:
  • Projects that coordinate with meat cutting and butchery programs at Minnesota State (i.e., Central Lakes College and Ridgewater College) and local industry partners.
  • Projects that serve secondary students from communities of color, Native American Tribal communities, and socio-economically disadvantaged communities.
  • Projects that source products for instructional use from socially disadvantaged and Emerging Farmers (including farmers of color; American Indian or Alaskan Native farmers; women; veterans; farmers with disabilities; young farmers; beginning farmers; LGBTQ+ farmers; and urban farmers).
  • Projects that become self-sustaining after grant period.
    

Ineligibility:

• Expenses ineligible for reimbursement include but are not limited to:
  • Expenditures incurred prior to contract execution or after grant period
  • Wages and benefits for existing staff positions, unless compensation is for additional time or a different role over and beyond normal duties
  • Consumable supplies (e.g., gloves, disinfectants)
  • Advertising, public relations, entertainment, and amusement costs
  • Donated goods and services.
    • While in-kind services may be furnished to an applicant by professional and technical personnel, consultants, and other skilled and unskilled labor, the value of these services is not eligible for reimbursement.
    • Likewise, the value of tangible in-kind contributions, including property, is ineligible.
  • Fines, penalties, and other settlement expenses resulting from failure of the applicant to comply with Federal, State, local, or Indian tribal laws and regulations
  • Indirect costs (expenses of doing business that are not readily identified with the project)
  • Fundraising, including financial campaigns, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred to raise capital or obtain contributions
  • Taxes, except sales tax on goods and services
  • Lobbyists and political contributions
  • Bad debts, late payment fees, finance charges, legal costs, or contingency funds
  • Parking or traffic violations