Stevens Sausage To Add Jobs, Expand Operations With State Grant

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — Stevens Sausage Co. will expand its meat processing operations, add new jobs and increase purchases from North Carolina hog producers after receiving a $188,721 state grant through the North Carolina Agriculture Manufacturing and Processing Initiative (NCAMPI).

The grant, announced by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is one of 10 awards totaling approximately $3.9 million statewide. Stevens Sausage was one of seven meat processors selected to receive funding.

The Johnston County company will use the grant to purchase a new packaging machine, a major investment designed to increase production capacity.

“The $188,721 awarded through the NCAMPI Grant will be used to purchase a VC-999 Rollstock machine,” said Sloan Stevens of Stevens Sausage. “In addition, Stevens Sausage will invest approximately $200,000 in complementary equipment and create three to four new positions to support the project.”

The company said the expansion is being driven by increased customer demand for products sourced from North Carolina farms.

“This investment will allow Stevens Sausage to significantly increase fresh sausage production for a customer requesting products made with North Carolina sows,” Stevens said. “By expanding this capacity, the project will directly strengthen North Carolina’s agricultural economy by creating a consistent, scalable market for North Carolina hog producers and increasing in-state value-added processing.”

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said the NCAMPI program is designed to strengthen North Carolina’s food supply chain while creating new opportunities for agricultural businesses.

“The goal of NCAMPI is to upgrade and support local processing operations, strengthen the agricultural supply chain and open new channels for North Carolina farmers,” Troxler said. “By increasing our in-state capacity for food processing and agricultural manufacturing, we’re ensuring that more of the value created from our commodities stays here at home, benefiting our farmers and communities.”

Created by the North Carolina General Assembly and administered by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the NCAMPI program supports value-added agricultural processing, expands food manufacturing capacity and helps businesses create jobs while improving profitability for North Carolina farmers and growers.

Mr. Stevens said the company is appreciative of the state’s investment in agriculture and believes the grant will benefit producers throughout Johnston County and beyond.

“We are grateful for this opportunity and sincerely appreciate the North Carolina Department of Agriculture for its continued hard work and support of agricultural production in Johnston County,” Stevens said. “Partnerships like this are critical to strengthening our state’s agricultural economy and supporting the long-term success of North Carolina farmers, producers and food manufacturers.”

The latest round of NCAMPI funding includes projects involving meat processing, cider production, automated seafood processing and rice seed storage. Other grant recipients are located in Duplin, Greene, Halifax, McDowell, Pamlico, Rutherford, Caswell, Randolph and Wilkes counties. The largest grant awarded during this funding cycle was $800,000 to Villari Food Group in Duplin County for a meat processing expansion.