Erwin, Tennessee Local Business Exchange

McBride Meats Company in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, has been awarded $249,957 in federal funding to expand its meat processing capabilities, with the project expected to create 13 jobs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the award November 12 through its Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program.

The funding will help the company purchase and install equipment intended to increase processing capacity, improve operational efficiency, and provide additional market opportunities for livestock producers throughout the region.

The project represents a targeted investment in an existing rural business rather than the construction of an entirely new processing operation.

New Equipment Will Expand Processing Capabilities

McBride Meats plans to use the federal assistance for equipment supporting several stages of meat processing.

The planned improvements include advanced processing, packaging, mixing, grinding, and animal-handling equipment.

These upgrades are intended to modernize production activities while improving worker safety and product quality.

Additional processing equipment can help a business handle more products and prepare them for different commercial markets.

For McBride Meats, the improvements are expected to increase the facility’s ability to serve livestock producers and customers seeking professionally processed meat products.

USDA did not specify a construction schedule, equipment installation date, or projected increase in processing volume in its announcement.

Thirteen Jobs Expected

The expansion is projected to create 13 additional jobs.

The federal announcement does not identify specific positions, expected wages, or a hiring timeline.

The employment figure therefore represents anticipated new positions associated with the project, not jobs that have already been filled.

Although the number of positions is relatively modest compared with larger industrial expansions, the project represents additional employment activity in a smaller Tennessee community.

The company may provide further information about recruitment as equipment is installed and operations expand.

More Processing Options for Regional Livestock Producers

A major purpose of the investment is to increase access to processing services for livestock producers.

Farmers and ranchers depend on processing facilities to prepare animals and meat products for commercial sale.

Additional regional processing capacity may give producers more options when planning production and arranging services.

USDA expects the project to support increased livestock purchases and provide additional opportunities for producers to reach commercial customers.

The improvements will also help McBride Meats prepare retail-ready products meeting requirements for grocery stores, wholesalers, food service providers, and institutional buyers.

Those markets can require specific packaging, handling, and product preparation capabilities.

The federal announcement does not identify new supply contracts or guarantee that particular retailers will purchase the company’s products.

Federal Program Supports Independent Processors

The award comes through USDA’s Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, administered by the department’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

The program supports eligible independent processors seeking to increase capacity, improve competition, and strengthen domestic meat and poultry supply chains.

USDA reports that more than $200 million has been invested nationwide through the program.

The $249,957 announced for McBride Meats is a project-specific federal award, not an open grant opportunity available automatically to other businesses.

The department did not disclose the company’s total project cost or whether additional private investment will accompany the federal funding.

Investment Supports Existing Rural Business

For South Pittsburg and the surrounding region, the project combines equipment modernization with the prospect of additional employment and processing services.

It may also create opportunities for livestock producers seeking access to regional processing and commercial distribution channels.

The confirmed development is the federal funding award to McBride Meats, accompanied by a projection of 13 new jobs.

Further details about installation, hiring, and expanded production capacity may become available ...

Small businesses that have operated in Nashville for at least a decade may qualify for grants of up to $10,000 through a city program designed to help established neighborhood businesses remain competitive.

The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County is accepting applications for its Legacy Business Program through December 4, 2026.

Established in October, the program provides financial assistance to qualifying independently owned businesses that have contributed to the character and identity of their communities.

The city’s official Small Business Growth Incentives webpage was updated November 9, confirming the current application deadline and program requirements.

Funding Supports Business Modernization

The Legacy Business Program is intended to help established businesses make improvements that support their continued operations.

Eligible activities include modernizing operational infrastructure, improving business sustainability, reducing operating expenses, and investing in marketing.

These activities can be particularly relevant to businesses that have maintained a neighborhood presence for years but need additional resources to adapt to changing operating conditions.

For example, an established retailer might seek assistance with qualifying marketing improvements, while another business might focus on operational efficiency.

Actual project eligibility depends on the city’s program guidelines and approval process.

The maximum grant award is $10,000 per qualifying business.

Businesses Must Have Operated for at Least 10 Years

The program is specifically intended for longstanding local businesses rather than newly established companies.

To qualify, applicants must have continuously operated in Nashville for at least 10 years.

Businesses must also be independently owned, locally owned, and operated for profit.

Applicants must demonstrate that their businesses have contributed to the culture, history, or identity of their neighborhoods.

These requirements distinguish the Legacy Business Program from general small-business funding opportunities.

The city’s broader Small Business Growth Incentives initiative serves businesses with fewer than 100 employees globally and a physical location in Davidson County.

Businesses should review the Legacy Business Program handbook to confirm all applicable eligibility conditions.

Nashville Offers Additional Business Incentives

The Legacy Business Program is part of a larger municipal initiative supporting local employment, workforce development, and commercial investment.

Nashville also offers a Property Investment Incentive that can reimburse 50% of qualifying commercial property improvements, up to $50,000.

That program requires a minimum eligible investment of $10,000 and applies to properties in designated census tracts.

An October 2026 update expanded eligibility to properties with existing values of up to $2 million and included both interior and exterior improvements.

The city also maintains a Workforce Advancement Incentive providing up to $10,000 for qualifying employee training.

A separate Job Growth Incentive supports eligible businesses creating additional positions.

These programs have different eligibility requirements and should not be confused with the Legacy Business Program.

Applications Close December 4

Nashville’s current Legacy Business Program application period remains open through December 4, 2026.

Interested business owners can obtain the application and program handbook through the city’s official Small Business Growth Incentives webpage.

Applicants should review the permitted expenses, ownership requirements, and documentation needed to demonstrate their business’s history and neighborhood contributions.

Grant awards are subject to city approval and applicable program conditions.

For qualifying Nashville businesses, the program offers an opportunity to obtain financial assistance for improvements intended to support continued operations.

The December 4 deadline gives eligible owners a limited period to prepare and submit their applications.

Advanced manufacturing company Centrus Energy has begun shipping newly manufactured centrifuges from its Oak Ridge, Tennessee, facility to Ohio as part of a multibillion-dollar expansion of domestic uranium enrichment capacity.

The company announced the milestone October 29, 2026.

The first newly completed centrifuge is being shipped from Tennessee to Ohio for final assembly.

The development follows Centrus Energy’s previously announced plans to invest more than $560 million in expanding its Oak Ridge manufacturing operation.

The Tennessee project is expected to create nearly 430 jobs over several years.

Manufacturing Operations Expand in Oak Ridge

Centrus Energy operates a technology and manufacturing facility in Oak Ridge, where it produces specialized equipment used in uranium enrichment.

The company restarted centrifuge manufacturing activities at the facility in December 2025.

In January 2026, Centrus announced plans to invest more than $560 million to expand and modernize the operation.

The investment is intended to increase manufacturing capacity and support production of thousands of advanced centrifuges.

The October 29 announcement confirms that the first newly completed centrifuge is now being shipped to Ohio.

According to the company, the milestone was achieved ahead of its previously announced year-end target.

The shipment represents progress in the manufacturing expansion rather than the completion of the entire project.

Ohio Facility Will Receive Equipment

The centrifuges manufactured in Oak Ridge will support Centrus Energy’s uranium enrichment operations in Piketon, Ohio.

The company is developing additional enrichment capacity at its existing Ohio facility.

Centrifuges are specialized machines used to separate uranium isotopes during the enrichment process.

Multiple centrifuges operate together in arrangements known as cascades.

Centrus plans to install additional cascades as it expands its production capabilities.

The company expects its first new enrichment capacity to begin operating in Ohio in 2029.

The project includes plans to manufacture low-enriched uranium for existing nuclear power plants and high-assay low-enriched uranium for advanced reactor applications.

The October 29 shipment does not mean that the new enrichment capacity is already operational.

Domestic Supplier Network Established

Centrus Energy also announced that it has assembled a domestic manufacturing supply chain to support the expansion.

The company has contracted with American suppliers and ordered tens of thousands of components.

These materials will support the production of specialized centrifuge equipment.

Earlier in October, Centrus completed its acquisition of Westerman Holdings, a manufacturer supplying centrifuge casings and other industrial components.

The acquisition adds manufacturing capabilities to the company’s existing operations.

Centrus expects its domestic supplier network to support both commercial nuclear energy customers and national security applications.

Nearly 430 Jobs Planned in Tennessee

The Oak Ridge expansion is expected to create nearly 430 jobs in Anderson County.

That employment projection was originally announced in January 2026.

The October 29 announcement does not identify a new hiring total or establish that all projected positions are currently available.

Recruitment and employment growth will depend on the company’s manufacturing expansion schedule.

The larger Ohio project also involves planned construction and operating employment.

However, those employment figures are separate from the nearly 430 positions associated with the Tennessee investment.

Manufacturing Milestone Connects Two States

The development links advanced equipment manufacturing in Tennessee with uranium enrichment operations in Ohio.

The company expects manufacturing activity to increase as additional equipment is produced and installed.

Future milestones include continued equipment shipments, manufacturing expansion, final assembly, and the commissioning of additional enrichment capacity.

For Oak Ridge and the surrounding East Tennessee region, the project represents an ongoing manufacturing investment involving specialized industrial production.

For Piketon and Pike County, Ohio, the shipment marks another stage in the development of expanded nuclear ...