Mississippi launches grant programme for processors

Applications will close on 13 September 2024.

Seafood processors must fulfil the following criteria to qualify for participation in the programme:

• Be a current resident of Mississippi
• Had a 2018-19 or 2019-20 Mississippi resident commercial seafood dealer/processor license (type 16)
• Had a Mississippi resident seafood dealer/processor license (type 16) in one of the five historical calendar years of 2014-2018
• Be certified as a seafood processor by MDMR or NOAA in 2019.
• Currently licensed (Type 17), certified and operational as a seafood processor in Mississippi. (Effective July 1, 2022, the MDMR established separate license types to differentiate between the roles of a seafood dealer (type 16) and a seafood processor (type 17) within the seafood industry)
• Eligible applicants must provide receipts, invoices, photos and other necessary documentation to MDMR. Receipts must be from on or after 1 September 2019. Installation must be verified by MDMR staff and is requested to be completed within one year of the application submittal date. Extensions will be considered if there is evidence that equipment or parts are not yet available

Projects eligible for reimbursement include:

• Emerging seafood processing technology
• Enhancement to existing infrastructure
• Purchasing new equipment
• Performing facility upgrades

The program is supported by fishery resource disaster funding, which was allocated in response to the freshwater impacts following the opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway in 2019. An appeals process will be offered to those who are not found eligible.

To access the application, visit arcg.is/0XH0Ob. For more information, visit dmr.ms.gov/2019bcprocessors/.