The Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2025 seeks to bolster the capacity and resilience of small and very small meat and poultry processing establishments across the United States. It introduces several key amendments to existing acts, focusing on regulatory support, financial assistance, and workforce development. The bill aims to make it easier for smaller processors to operate efficiently and safely, thereby increasing local food processing options. A significant provision requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide enhanced guidance and resources for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plans. This includes establishing a free, searchable database of approved validation studies and publishing scale-appropriate model HACCP plans for various types of establishments. The Secretary must also issue a guidance document detailing the requirements for HACCP plan approval, ensuring data confidentiality for businesses. To further support state-level oversight, the bill increases the maximum federal share for expenses of state meat and poultry inspection programs from 50 percent to 65 percent . It also expands the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program by raising the employee cap for participating establishments from 25 to 50 employees and increasing the federal share for CIS program costs from 60 percent to 80 percent . The Secretary is mandated to conduct outreach to states not yet participating in the CIS program to encourage broader adoption. The legislation establishes a new Processing Resilience Grant Program , authorizing $20 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2031. These competitive grants, up to $500,000, are available to eligible entities, including small processors, state-inspected facilities, and custom operations, to support activities like: Developing HACCP plans Purchasing equipment and upgrading facilities Improving sanitation and humane handling infrastructure Conducting feasibility studies and business planning Finally, the bill creates two new grant programs for local meat and poultry processing training, each authorized at $10 million annually. One program provides grants to educational institutions like junior colleges and vocational schools to establish or expand career training programs. The second offers grants directly to covered establishments to develop their own training initiatives, including structured apprenticeships, to cultivate a skilled workforce for the sector.