The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced that the next application round for the Butchery Innovation and Revitalization program will open on February 1.
The program, created during the 2021 legislative session to strengthen Iowa’s food supply chain and support rural development, has been so successful that legislators have renewed the program the past two years. Grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded to eligible businesses, with a total of $1,000,000 available through the program in the current fiscal year.
“Increasing the capacity of our small-scale meat processors further strengthens Iowa’s economy and the food supply chain by helping livestock producers and meeting consumer demand,” said Debi Durham, director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority.
Applicants must meet all requirements outlined in Iowa Code section 15E.370 and in the administrative rules, and must have received an assessment from the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS). The CIRAS assessment submission deadline is March 7, 2024. The IEDA application must be completed after receiving the assessment report. The deadline to submit the IEDA application is April 18, 2024.
Requirements include that a business must:
- Be incorporated or authorized to do business in Iowa
- Employ fewer than 75 people
- Be licensed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) or be able to document its work to become licensed by IDALS
Additional program information, a sample of the CIRAS assessment form, application FAQs and checklist are available online at iowaeda.com/grow/butchery-innovation-revitalization/.
For more program information, contact IEDA at businessfinance@iowaeda.com.
For more information, contact:
Staci Hupp Ballard
515.348.6245
communications@iowaeda.com
