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Processor urgently waiting for grant that would expand capacity

A small meat processor in Nebraska says is wanting to expand but grants announced in September haven’t been awarded yet.

Max McClean of McLean Beef tells Brownfield he was approved for an $80,000 grant that would double his freezer capacity. “We’re supposed to have the money before we start.  We have the plans and they have all that.  But, we have to get the money before we can get the containers coming and built.”

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture announced a total of $4.9 million in grants to 64 meat processing facilities across the state via the state’s Independent Processor Assistance Program.

Ag Director Steve Wellman says the state continues to collect information to be able to make payments. “We’re working with the state of Nebraska to get the payments out the door.  We hope that gets done by the end of the year, but it does take some time for all of that paperwork and response and the money to go out.”

Wellman says another round of applications should open in 2023 for another $5 million.