USDA’s $20 Million Grant Boosts Greater Omaha Packing’s Expansion

The USDA’s Rural Development Under Secretary, Dr. Basil Gooden, visited Nebraska’s Greater Omaha Packing Company to observe the impact of a $20 million grant awarded through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP).

This grant is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s broader effort to strengthen food supply chains and boost competition within the meat and poultry processing industry.

Enhancing Capacity and Supporting Jobs

Greater Omaha Packing received the grant to assist with a $100 million expansion aimed at increasing beef processing capacity.

The upgrades will include expanding the company’s freezers, improving wastewater system capacity, remodeling areas for further processing, and increasing carcass holding coolers.

These changes will allow the company to process 700 additional heads of cattle per day and create 275 new jobs.

“This project is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s $110 million investment in our meat and poultry processing,” said Acting Nebraska State Director for Rural Development Joan Scheel.

“These investments help strengthen our food supply chains, increase our competition, help lower food costs, and are part of USDA’s efforts to create a more competitive agricultural system by expanding our independent meat processors’ capacities.”

Nationwide Impact of MPPEP

Since the MPPEP program began, the USDA has provided 74 awards totaling over $325 million, significantly increasing processing capacities nationwide.

These projects have led to an annual increase of over 800,000 cattle, 14,000 hogs, 23 million chickens, and 5 million turkeys processed. Moreover, nearly 900 meat and poultry producers have benefited, and over 1,200 new jobs have been created.

For updates on the USDA’s efforts to boost meat processing, visit our homepage for the latest news.