STEELE, ND. — NoDak Meats LLC held a ribbon cutting ceremony last week to celebrate the opening of its new meat processing facility in Steele, ND, on Jan. 8.

The start-up was financed by a $623,833 loan from the Lewis and Clark Development Group, which was awarded grant funds from USDA’s Rural Development’s Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP). MPILP provides funding to intermediary lenders who support the financing of start-ups, expansions and operations for meat and poultry processing establishments.

Representatives from both the Lewis and Clark Development Group and Rural Development attended the ribbon cutting ceremony.

“USDA Rural Development awarded millions of dollars to intermediary lenders, including to the Lewis and Clark Development Group here in North Dakota, to make financing more available and accessible to meat processors,” said Erin Oban, state director of Rural Development. “The opening of NoDak Meats in Steele is a perfect example of how the administration’s priorities and our federal resources are investing in and benefiting our North Dakota communities, small, rural businesses, and the entire food supply chain — from producer to consumer.”