The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) recently announced the City of Brooten will receive $866,000 as part of a Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Program (BDPI) Grant for the Jennigas Meat Processing project. This award provides an additional $205,000 to the previously awarded $661,000.

“This is great news for rural jobs, Brooten, and our region,” Senator Torrey Westrom (R-Alexandria) said. “I have long championed efforts to improve critical infrastructure in our area and that includes supporting Value Added Agriculture and food supply chains. Helping our small meat processors expand will improve our supply chains, create jobs, and be a big boost to our Ag economy. Beefing up more meat processing in our livestock-rich rural communities is a win-win for agriculture and small towns” 

The grants come from DEED’s BDPI grant program which supports communities outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Under the program, DEED awards 50% of eligible capital costs for the qualifying public infrastructure projects. These projects include wastewater collection and treatment, drinking water, storm sewers, and more.