Black River Meats LLC of Withee Selected as Recipient of 2026 Meat Processor Grant

Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 -- 10:00 AM

Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), during June Dairy Month, announced that 18 Wisconsin meat processors will receive grants through the 2026 Meat Processor Infrastructure Grant Program.

Created by Gov. Evers in 2021, these grants help local meat processors 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.

One local recipient is Black River Meats LLC in Withee. They will use the grant to expand cooler capacity to support continued growth and operational efficiency.  A total of $700,000 was available for this year’s meat processor grants, with a maximum of $50,000 allowed for each project.

Grant recipients were selected through a competitive review process and are required to provide a match of 100 percent of the grant amount. DATCP received 47 applications totaling $1.77 million in grant requests. An additional $700,000 in grants will be available in 2027.

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