COLUMBIA, S.C. — Eight beef processing facilities in South Carolina have been awarded over $3.4 million in matching grant funds from the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) to help with expansion and local job creation.
A total of $3,471,088 will allow these small facilities to increase the state's processing capacity by 8,300 head of cattle per year. That increased capacity will create new jobs, offer ranchers and farmers more opportunities, and strengthen the local food system.
“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 Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers. “We know there’s high consumer demand for local meat, and I’m proud of the way we’re working together to address it.”
According to SCDA, during the COVID-19 pandemic, 21.6% of overall consumers increased their purchase of local meats.
The SCDA states with an estimated economic impact of $3,500 per head, the expansions will keep approximately $29 million of economic activity in South Carolina that would otherwise have gone out of state.
The companies awarded the matching grants are:
- Back 40 Butchery, 2315 Dixie Rd, Hodges
- Brown's Meat Market, 1457 Union St., Spartanburg
- Cordray's Processing, 6708 County Line Rd., Ravenel
- Hemingway Locker Plant, 202 S Main St., Hemingway
- Knockout Butchery, 1038 Pinckney Rd., Pauline
- Neverdun Farms, Singleton Road, Sumter
- PF Meat Company, 305 O Neal St., Belton
- Williamsburg Packing Co., 920 Eastland Ave., Kingstree
In addition to these funds, SCDA has requested an additional $75 million from the General Assembly to address the significant lack of in-state food processing capacity across seafood, fruit and vegetables, dairy, grain and animal feed.
