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5 Pillar Meats opens in Prince Edward County; county to appropriate $75,000 TRRC grant for reimbursements
Summary
Local officials spotlighted 5 Pillar Meats after its July opening, and the board approved appropriating a $75,000 Tobacco Commission (TRRC) grant to allow reimbursement disbursements tied to the project; county staff said the project used Tobacco Commission and AFID grant support.
County economic-development staff and the board used the meeting to highlight 5 Pillar Meats, a locally opened meat-processing business launched July 26, 2025.
Sekou Abdu Sabour described the business's agricultural roots, 27 years of prior fire-service work, and the operation's early sales performance. "We've sold almost 2 and a half tons of meat since we've been open in 80 days," Sabour said, and staff noted that 64% of those sales were beef. Sabour thanked supporting agencies including the Tobacco Commission and an AFID grant and invited residents to patronize the new business at 250 Dominion Drive near Lowe's.
Related grants: finance staff asked the board to appropriate a $75,000 Tobacco Commission (TRRC) grant awarded to the county to develop the 5 Pillar Meats processing facility so reimbursements can be disbursed. The packet and staff statement indicated the master agreement and performance agreement required to release funding were previously approved; the board voted to appropriate the grant so reimbursements to the business or its contractors can proceed.
Why it matters: county staff framed the project as local economic development—an IDA equipment loan example (Pear Ceramics America, $170,000) also appeared in the packet—and said the TRRC grant supports processing-capacity and local farm-to-market connections. The board approved appropriating the $75,000 TRRC grant by motion and roll-call affirmatives.
Next steps: staff will begin dispersing reimbursements per the grant agreements and report back on project spending and outcomes at future board meetings.
