Gov. Evers, DATCP Announce Investments to Support Wisconsin’s Meat Processing Industry

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), announced nine Wisconsin meat processors will receive 2025 Meat Processor Infrastructure grants. These grants help local meat processors with projects to modernize and grow their businesses, produce new products, or expand their markets, while improving profitability and sustaining the long-term viability of Wisconsin’s meat processing facilities. 

This announcement comes as earlier this month, Gov. Evers was proud to sign the bipartisan 2025-27 Biennial Budget, which builds upon the governor’s and the Evers Administration’s efforts to support Wisconsin’s farmers and farm families, producers, and processors. The bipartisan state budget includes several substantial investments in the state’s agricultural industry, as well as an additional $1 million to bolster the successful Meat Processor Infrastructure Grant Program, which often receives far more requests than funding available.

“For the past six years, I’ve been proud to support our meat processing industry to ensure our farmers, farm families, producers, and processors have the resources and support they deserve so they can continue to produce the high-quality products Wisconsin is known for and keep our supply chain moving,” said Gov. Evers. “These grants work to uplift our local meat processors, bolster the industry, and grow innovation right here in Wisconsin, and I’m excited that we were able to secure additional funding in our bipartisan budget to continue to grow this highly successful program into the future.”

Thanks to investments secured by Gov. Evers in the 2023-25 Biennial Budget, a total of $250,000 was available for this round of the Meat Processor Infrastructure Grant Program, with a maximum of $50,000 allowed for each project. Grant recipients are required to provide a match of 100 percent of the grant amount. DATCP received 51 grant requests totaling more than $2.2 million.

The Meat Processor Infrastructure Grant recipients and their planned projects are (* denotes current AAMP member):

*Almena Meat Company Inc. in Barron County: Purchase new efficient carcass cooler, doubling carcass storage space.

Good News Farm LLC in Pepin County: Purchase equipment to become an official poultry harvest establishment.

Brock’s Butcher Block in Monroe County: Purchase rollstock machine to alleviate harvest bottleneck.

*County Pride Meats in Rock County: Expand building to include more retail space and new sausage room.

Malterer Meats in Dodge County: Purchase new Poly-clip machine to increase efficiency.

45 Meats LLC in Langlade County: Purchase mixer/grinder and scale to increase efficiency.

Hickory Hills Country Meats LLC in Calumet County: Purchase equipment to increase harvest capacity.

Butcher Block 66 in Portage County: Expand freezer and hot water system to increase harvest capacity.

Hickerson Meats & Processing LLC in Burnett County: Build new a processing and retail area.