CHARLES CITY – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today marked the expansion of Pure Prairie Poultry Inc., a poultry processing plant in Charles City, by participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility. USDA funded projects at the company to increase independent processing capacity, create more, new and better markets for producers, and lower food costs.
“The expansion of poultry processing here gives farmers and ranchers throughout the state and this Midwestern region a better chance to compete in the marketplace,” said Director Greenfield. “Thanks to the passage of the American Rescue Plan, USDA is helping to bring value back to rural communities, to create jobs, and to lower food costs at the grocery store for Iowa families.”
In November 2022, Pure Prairie Poultry received a $6,963,725 grant from USDA’s Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP). The company also received a USDA loan for $38,720,000 from the Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program (FSCGL). Both investments helped expand and renovate a shuttered processing plant.
Background
The investments were part of USDA’s efforts to create a more competitive agricultural system, advance President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, and support the Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain, which dedicates resources to expanding independent processing capacity. Together, these actions help to lower food costs by spurring competition and strengthening supply chains.
MPPEP is funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.