** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY (OSU) EXTENSION'S NICHE MEAT PROCESSORS ASSISTANCE NETWORK (NMPAN) WILL LEAD A COLLABORATIVE, MULTI-STATE APPROACH TO SOLVE THE WORKFORCE NEEDS OF OUR SMALL-SCALE, DIVERSE RED MEAT PROCESSING SECTOR IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. KEY PROJECT PARTNERS INCLUDE BLUE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (BMCC) IN PENDLETON, OR, WHICH ALREADY HAS A CAMPUS LIVESTOCK FARM AND SLAUGHTERHOUSE, AND THE NORTHWEST MEAT PROCESSORS ASSOCIATION (NWMPA), A NON-PROFIT TRADE GROUP SERVING THE INDEPENDENT MEAT PROCESSORS OF THE NORTHWEST SINCE 1966.KEY OBJECTIVES INCLUDE:1. CONDUCT A WORKFORCE NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF THE PNW MEAT INDUSTRY TO DETERMINE THE MOST APPROPRIATE TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT WILL RESULT IN A ROBUST AND SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE AS WELL AS LIVING WAGE JOBS THAT ATTRACT AND RETAIN THAT WORKFORCE INTO THE FUTURE.2. DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AT BMCC TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR UNIQUE MEAT PROCESSING DEMOGRAPHICS IN THE PNW. THERE WILL BE A STRONG EMPHASIS ON MAKING THE CURRICULUM INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE TO HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZEDCOMMUNITIES.3. IN COLLABORATION WITH NWMPA, STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND NOVEL MEAT PROCESSING APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO PREPARE NEW BUTCHERS WITH THE SKILLS TO GET HIRED, ADVANCE IN THE WORKFORCE, OBTAIN LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT, AND BE READY TO LAUNCH THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.4. LEVERAGE EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED NICHE MEAT PROCESSORS ASSISTANCE NETWORK AT OSU TO BOLSTER RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEAT PROCESSORS STAKEHOLDERS.