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Project Snapshot
- Sponsor: Standard Meat Company
- Guided by: Impact Marketplace
- Investor: Regions Bank
- CDEs: Cadence Bank, Empowerment Reinvestment Fund, Enhanced Capital, National New Markets Tax Credit Fund, Texas Community Development Corporation
- Jobs Created: 200 permanent, 110 construction
- Location: Fort Worth, TX (Severely Distressed + Opportunity Zone)
Honoring the Past, Investing in the Future
“There’s something special about the way Texans care about each other. And that fits who we are as a company.”
— Ben Rosenthal, CEO & Co-President, Standard Meat Company
In the historic Fort Worth Stockyards—where tradition runs deep and transformation is underway—Standard Meat Company faced a challenge: expand their impact and operations while staying rooted in community.
The fourth-generation, family-owned company had the vision and the purpose. What they needed was a partner to help navigate the complex path to financing a community-anchored project in one of Fort Worth’s most distressed neighborhoods.
Enter Impact Marketplace: Guiding the Way Forward
As Standard Meat set out to bring 200 new quality jobs and state-of-the-art processing capabilities to their hometown, Impact Marketplace stepped in as a strategic guide, helping the company identify, structure, and secure the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) financing needed to bring the project to life.
“Standard Meat had a bold vision rooted in legacy and community impact,” said James Heffner, Principal at Impact Marketplace.
“Our job was to help translate that into a financing structure that worked—not just for them, but for the people they serve.”
Through our role, Impact Marketplace facilitated the NMTC process from start to finish—engaging allocatees, shaping the story of impact, coordinating with investors, and ensuring that the capital stack aligned with Standard Meat’s values and timeline.
Building More Than a Plant
“This project isn’t just about steel and equipment—it’s about people,” said Ashli Blumenfeld, Co-President of Standard Meat Company.
“We’re creating jobs with real pathways, wages that support families, and benefits that build futures.”
The new facility—Standard Meat’s fifth in the DFW region—will serve clients across foodservice, retail, and e-commerce. But its most important service is to the Fort Worth community:
- 200 full-time, permanent jobs, majority of which are accessible without a college degree
- Average Wage that is 128% of the Tarrant County living wage
- Full benefits, paid leave, 401(k) match, and tuition reimbursement
- Opportunities for advancement from the plant floor to leadership
The workforce will reflect the rich diversity of Fort Worth, reinforcing the company’s commitment to building an inclusive and equitable workplace.
A Strategic Use of NMTC to Spur Equitable Growth
The facility is located in a federally designated Severely Distressed census tract, with high poverty, unemployment, and a median family income just over 50% of the area median. It is also in an Opportunity Zone and sits within walking distance of Fort Worth’s $1B Stockyards redevelopment.
“When a legacy business like Standard Meat steps up to invest this boldly in a historically underserved area, it creates a rising tide,” said Will Shurtleff, at Cadence Community Capital, LLC.
“This project will lift up families—not just with jobs, but with dignity, training, and opportunity.”
“It’s rare to see a for-profit company bring this level of intentionality to job quality and workforce development,” said Vera Booker, [Title], Empowerment Reinvestment Fund.
Investor Perspective: Seeing the ROI in Real Impact
“We’re proud to support a project that so clearly aligns with our values,” said Courtney Nolan, SVP at Regions Bank.
“From living-wage jobs to sustainability efforts to long-term community engagement, Standard Meat is setting a new standard.”
Sustainability and Community Commitment
Beyond job creation, the facility will also:
- Recycle water for sous vide operations
- Repurpose concrete and construction materials
- Offer easy access to public transportation
- Support food banks, local events, and scholarships
“We want our team members to feel seen, supported, and proud of where they work,” said Rosenthal.
“We also want Fort Worth to see this facility as a place of opportunity.”
Looking Ahead
Construction is underway, and operations are expected to begin by the end of 2025. The impact of this facility will extend beyond its walls—strengthening supply chains, uplifting families, and creating new pathways to prosperity in Fort Worth.
“At Impact Marketplace, we help mission-aligned companies like Standard Meat unlock the capital needed to do big, meaningful things,” said Luke Pope, Principal.
“This is what it looks like when business and community grow together.”
“We’re not just cutting steaks—we’re cutting a new path for equitable job creation,” said Blumenfeld.
“This is what it looks like when private enterprise partners with public tools to do something meaningful.”
