Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Equipment Only Grant

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced that small-scale meat processors and custom lockers can now apply for the Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Equipment Only Grant.

With $105,000 allocated for Fiscal Year 2027, eligible businesses can receive up to $20,000 to purchase cold storage, processing, or packaging equipment.

The grant aims to address the growing demand for local meat processing as larger facilities close and producers work to expand herds. Iowa Meat Processors Association President Katie Anderson highlighted that these funds help independent lockers modernize, boost efficiency, and better serve local farmers and consumers.

Full details including financial matching requirements, application, eligibility, and scoring criteria are available on the Choose Iowa website.

Grant applications should be submitted through the link provided on the Choose Iowa website by 12 p.m./CT on Nov. 20, 2026. Grant recipients will be announced in December 2026.