HomeMy WebLinkAbout20221296.tiffMay 2, 2022
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PHONE: 970-400-4'200
FAX: 970-336-7233
1150 O STREET
P.O. BOX 758
GREELF,Y, CO 80632
David and Tami Ellicott
Innovative Foods
4320 Industrial Parkway
Evans, CO 80620
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Ellicott,
Weld County Commissioners are pleased to write this letter of support for Innovative Food's grant application for the
recently announced USDA Rural Development funding program entitled Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program
(MPPEP). The MPPEP provides grants to help eligible processors expand their capacity. USDA Rural Development
designed the MPPEP to encourage competition and sustainable growth in the U.S. meat processing sector and to help
improve supply chain resiliency.
Innovative Foods in Evans, Colorado has served the community and surrounding areas for several years, offering harvest,
fabrication and further processed items for local and national foodservice and retails programs. The new building will
provide a net increase of 150% processing capacity with a new, food safety driven design. It will replace a 4,500 sq. ft.
space with over 11,000 sq. ft., small by industry standards but will be one of the nicest small meat processing facilities in
the country. Innovative Foods has maintained around 25 employees the past few years and anticipate growing by about 40%
up to 35 employees across all position levels such as production skilled workers, packagers/processors, utility, off ce/clerical,
retail, and management.
As commissioners for Weld County, we also understand that Innovative Foods supports local and regional production animal
producers, offering them customer harvesting and fabrication services that support their ecommerce, farmers market, retail,
and foodservice businesses.
The importance of supporting Colorado communities and small processing facilities to advance sustainable protein
production and rural community vitality is imperative in an ever-changing climate and with a growing population.
Therefore, we are in full support of Innovative Foods submission to the MPPEP grant program as their business and growth
strategy align with our initiative of improving the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of food production in
Colorado and we appreciate the opportunity to share our support.
M.
ery L. B
Sincerely,
BOARD OF C UNTY COMMISSIONERS
ott K. James, Chair
an, Pro Tem Steve Moreno
co M tAv n ; ca-i-; OOS
stiI/22
2022-1296
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