# MPPEP Phase 3 Invasive Wild-Caught Catfish

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/rd-rbs-25-03-mppep-mppep-phase-3-invasive-wild-caught-catfish/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/360256

> Rural Business-Cooperative Service offered grants of up to $1.0 million (at least $250,000) to nonprofits, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. It expected to make about 10 awards worth $6.0 million in total. Applications closed on October 6, 2025.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | RD-RBS-25-03-MPPEP |
| Agency | Rural Business-Cooperative Service |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | October 6, 2025 |
| Award ceiling | $1.0 million |
| Award floor | $250,000 |
| Expected awards | 10 |
| Total funding | $6.0 million |
| Cost sharing | required |
| Assistance Listings | 10.381 |

## Who can apply

- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

for‐profit and nonprofit entities, producer‐owned Cooperatives and corporations, certified benefit corporations, Tribes and Tribal Entities, State or local government entities, and other business types (regardless of legal structure

## What the grant funds

The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) provides grants to help eligible meat and poultry processors expand their capacity. USDA Rural Development designed this program to encourage competition and sustainable growth in the U.S. meat processing sector, and to help improve supply chain resiliency. The previous 2 Phases of MPPEP made available funding for new facilities and renovation and expansion of existing facilities. USDA MPPEP Phase III is making competitive grant funding available specifically for the processing of wild-caught invasive catfish for purchase of equipment, including improvements, upgrades, renovations or retrofits to an existing Facility, needed to install the equipment to increase processing capacity of invasive, Wild-Caught catfish and overall volume of Processing. This will not only scale capacity and efficiency at Processing facilities, but also help to reduce Invasive Species populations that are decimating marine ecosystems and threatening the economy of the fishing industry.

## Questions people ask

### Is RD-RBS-25-03-MPPEP still open?

No. It closed on October 6, 2025. A newer notice is open: RD-RBS-26-03-MPPEP, closes December 7, 2026 (30 days left).

### Who can apply for MPPEP Phase 3 Invasive Wild-Caught Catfish?

Rural Business-Cooperative Service accepted applications from nonprofits, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for MPPEP Phase 3 Invasive Wild-Caught Catfish?

Closed October 6, 2025. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $1.0 million each. About $6.0 million in total across about 10 awards.

### Who has won Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were New Hampshire Community Loan Fund Inc, Wholestone Farms II LLC, Riverbend Meats, LLC. The program made 26 awards worth $234 million in that time.