The Shapiro Administration announced on March 21 that the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is supporting small businesses through the Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant Program, which aims to help meet growing demand for locally produced food.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited Route 174 Roadside Market in Cumberland County, one of 54 small businesses benefiting from the program. The grants reimburse costs related to opening or expanding operations or meeting federal food safety requirements. Redding said, “Small meat processors are essential partners for Pennsylvania farmers and critical to strong local economies. The Shapiro Administration is helping these businesses get stuff done so they can grow, create jobs, and give customers what they want and farmers more opportunities to save transportation costs and sell their products close to home. When we invest in small businesses, we strengthen rural communities and build a more resilient food supply chain for Pennsylvania.”
Route 174 Roadside Market received a $100,000 grant in 2022 that enabled the Paulus family to add a butchering room, expand cold storage, acquire new equipment for direct-to-consumer sales, and better meet demand for locally produced meat. Steve Paulus, owner of the farm and market, said, “During the pandemic we could not get our cattle processed to keep up with the demand in the store. We decided we needed to do as much of the process here on the farm as possible. The grant helped us achieve that goal. Without the grant we would not be able to give the variety of meats to our customers. This grant also helped save this small family farm and I am glad I can keep cows in the pasture and crops in the field.”
Since 2019, Pennsylvania has invested over $3.1 million through this program across 54 small meat and poultry processing businesses. These investments aim to reduce bottlenecks at USDA plants by decreasing time and distance required for livestock producers to reach markets.
A total of $500,000 will be available for grants in 2025–26 with individual awards up to $100,000; applications open March 23, 2026.
Pennsylvania agriculture contributes $132.5 billion annually to the state economy and sustains over 593,000 jobs according to the official website. More than 49,000 farm families manage over 7.3 million acres statewide with annual cash receipts totaling $7.8 billion as reported by the official website. The Department supports community prosperity by conserving farmland and natural resources while fostering a robust economy through investments that remove barriers for agricultural growth according to the official website. It extends its operations across Pennsylvania offering inspection services for consumer protection and promoting state agricultural products according to the official website.
Additional details about these programs are available as listed on the official roster page.
