Tester Secures Nearly $1.4 Million to Expand Meat Processing in Montana

Funding will go to Old Salt Meat Company to bolster operations, create jobs, support Montana producers

As part of his continued effort to support Montana small businesses and agricultural producers, U.S. Senator Jon Tester secured $1,399,985 for Old Salt Meat Company to finance meat processing in the state. Old Salt Meat Company is a cooperatively owned livestock processor focused on driving value and return to producers while helping consumers access to locally raised beef. The funding will be used to establish a USDA-inspected slaughter facility, scale up their fabrication space under USDA inspection, and expand their cold storage capacity.

“Montana makes beef and beef makes Montana, and I’ll always work to ensure our state’s producers can process that beef right here in our own backyard,” said Tester. “I’m proud to have secured this funding to expand operations at Montana’s own Old Salt Meat Company, and I look forward to seeing this funding strengthen our supply chains, bolster the local economy, and create good-paying jobs in the process.”

The funding comes from the final investment in the Meat Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) which was established and funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Tester was the only member of the Montana delegation that supported the American Rescue Plan.

Tester has led the charge to expand meat processing capacity in Montana. Last year, Tester secured more than $1 million to help seven Montana meat processors expand their operations and processing capacities, grow their customer bases, and assist with production, operational, and marketing costs. Tester also secured $7.8 million for 30 Montana agriculture small businesses, which included funding for three new USDA-certified meat processing facilities.

Tester also secured $2 million from the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program for the Great Falls Development Authority Inc. in 2022. The funding, provided through ARPA, will go toward expanding GFDA’s relending work, providing support for both existing meat and poultry processing operations in the Great Falls region that are looking to grow as well as entrepreneurs looking to start new operations. Tester also secured $291,900 from MPPEP for the Montana Premium Processing Cooperative (MPPC) in Havre.