Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts included an additional $10 million of funding for small and medium sized processors in his State of the State Address. Johnathan Hladik, policy director for the Center for Rural Affairs, says they welcome the governor’s support for the Independent Processor Assistance Program, established as part of LB 324. It did not contain funding as the sponsors of the bill recognized it would be an ideal match for CARES Act dollars.
He says the program awaits rule making by the state department of agriculture to set the maximum grant amounts but it does include dollars for workforce training.
Hladik also says the Governor specifically earmarked dollars for regional packer Sustainable Beef in North Platte, Nebraska.
He says the program will help local processors secure infrastructure and workforce needs to keep up with the heightened demand caused by changing consumer preference and interruptions at regional packing plants.
