USDA Announces Funds to Expand Processing Capacity Following NCBA Advocacy

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) following Secretary Tom Vilsack’s announcement of over $223 million in grants and loans to support small to mid-sized processing facilities.

“NCBA has long advocated for expanded processing capacity to provide cattle producers with additional options for turning their cattle into high-quality beef. Today, the cattle industry needs more targeted capacity in high-need areas, and we look forward to these facilities launching and expanding operations,” said NCBA Senior Director of Government Affairs Tanner Beymer...

NPB and Partners Receive $155 Million from USDA Climate-Smart Program

NPB is a collaborator on three separate grants awarded by USDA that support climate-smart pork production.

The National Pork Board (NPB) is the lead of one and a collaborator on two grants receiving $155 million in USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding announced Sept. 14, 2022.

The three grants are part of the $2.8 billion awarded to 70 selected projects in the first round of funding for the program.

“Pork producers stand out as leaders in sustainability with the data aggregation tools they have..." 

Amazon Creates $1 Billion Fund for Supply Chain Innovation

Amazon will invest $1 billion into supply chain technology.

Amazon is launching a $1 billion venture investment program for logistics and fulfillment technology.

The e-tail giant’s new funding initiative, called the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund (AIIF), is meant to advance and support innovation in customer fulfillment, logistics, and the supply chain. According to Amazon, increasing customer demand for online shopping and fast delivery led it to create the fund.

Amazon says the new fund will invest in companies that develop and provide solutions that “incrementally increase delivery...

Chipotle Launches $50 Million Venture Fund to Foster Innovation

Chipotle is launching a $50 million venture fund.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is hoping to revolutionize the restaurant industry.

The quick-service restaurant chain announced the launch of Cultivate Next, a venture fund that will support seed-to-Series B stage companies that focus on increasing technology and innovation in restaurant operations and align with its mission to “Cultivate a Better World.” The fund will have an initial size of $50 million and will be financed solely by Chipotle.

The fund launch comes as the company is continuing its...

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. Announces $82.0 Million for Capital Projects to Expand Cage-Free Production

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. today announced that its Board of Directors has approved new capital projects to further expand the Company’s cage-free egg production capabilities. The Company plans to fund the proposed projects for an estimated total of $82 million through a combination of available cash on hand, investments and operating cash flow.

The proposed projects will include the following Cal-Maine Foods’ locations:

- Delta, Utah - four new cage-free layer houses and two pullet house conversions with capacity for approximately 810,000...

Amazon Partners with Universities and Colleges to Fully Fund Tuition for Hourly Employees

Amazon announced today that it is further expanding the career advancement opportunities it offers its 750,000 hourly employees in the U.S. by partnering with more than 140 national and local universities to provide fully-funded college tuition. The announcement is part of the company’s ongoing enhancements to Career Choice—an Amazon upskilling program designed to help frontline employees grow their skills for career success at Amazon or elsewhere.

Today’s announcement brings into the program dozens of local colleges and universities and four new national nonprofit education providers...

Ethnic E-Grocer Weee! Raises $425 Million Series E Round Led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2

Weee! (www.sayweee.com), the largest and fastest-growing ethnic e-grocer in North America, today announced it secured $425 million in Series E financing led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2. Greyhound Capital also participated in this round alongside the company's existing investors. The capital will be used to expand Weee!'s platform offering across new and existing ethnicities, and scale grocery and food delivery services to new geographies providing more customers with access to exciting food at affordable prices. The company will also...