“Companies that were awarded grants in 2023-24 but not given their money are finding themselves in the middle of expansions and equipment purchases without a way to move forward,” the association said in a post on its website.
It represents more than 1,600 small and medium sized meat processors nationwide and pointed to the example of Granite State Packing of Claremont, New Hampshire which was in line for $1.6 million.
Arion Thiboumery, director on the board at Granite State, said the company started construction and ordered more than $600,000 worth of equipment before it received a notice that grant money was on hold until further notice.
“This is very painful for us, as we have many expenses coming at us and no grant funds,” Thiboumery said.
Previous President Joe Biden launched a program to encourage increased competition in meat-packing at a time when meat prices were rapidly rising and the biggest packers were accused of price-fixing.
