Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program

This program is designed to support the priorities tribal nations have articulated to USDA throughout consultations in 2021 and 2022, including but not limited to support for traditional harvesting methods, indigenous animals, and community animal protein processing operations.

Funding of this program will address needs for local animal protein processing capacity in tribal communities and tribal foods supply chains. The primary purpose of all projects must be to expand or enhance animal protein processing capacity in Indian Country. Applicants may also propose other related activities in their project plans. USDA aims to fund a portfolio of projects representing geographic diversity, indigenous animal diversity, model diversity (mobile processing, multi-tribal, etc.), and scale diversity that reflects priorities tribal nations have identified as necessary to support indigenous foods, processing practices, and food systems. Outcomes of these projects will also provide valuable data to USDA on species which are uncommon in other federal meat and poultry programs.

Eligibility

Construction, renovation, project-specific staff expenses, working capital, and equipment are eligible for funding. Land purchases, technical assistance, and planning grants are not eligible.

Eligible applicants for the Indigenous Animals Grants must be the tribal governments of an Indian tribe as defined by the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act (List Act) of 1994 (Pub. L. No. 103-454), their wholly owned arms and instrumentalities, or joint or multi-tribal government entities.

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