COLUMBIA, SC. – The South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) announced on March 30 that it would provide $3.47 million in matching grant funding to eight companies for beef processing expansion and capacity.
The small plants are expected to increase South Carolina’s processing capacity by 8,300 head of cattle per year. SCDA said the estimated economic impact would be $3,500 per head with the expansion keeping approximately $29 million of economic activity in the state.
“Helping these facilities expand will allow more of South Carolina’s 700-plus livestock farmers to raise their animals to maturity and have them processed in the state, keeping dollars in the local economy,” said Hugh Weathers, commissioner of agriculture for South Carolina. “We know there’s high consumer demand for local meat, and I’m proud of the way we’re working together to address it.”
The Agribusiness Infrastructure Incentives Distribution Panel reviewed applications and selected the awardees:
- Back 40 Butchery, Hodges, SC
- Brown’s Meat Market, Spartanburg, SC
- Cordray’s Processing, Ravenel, SC
- Hemingway Locker Plant, Hemingway, SC
- Knockout Butchery, Pauline, SC
- Neverdun Farms, Sumter, SC
- PF Meat Company, Belton, SC
- Williamsburg Packing Co., Kingstree, SC
SCDA also mentioned that it is looking to request an additional $75 million from the general assembly to address in-state food processing capacity in seafood, fruits and vegetables, dairy, grain and animal feed.
