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Build Awareness Overseas with Government Funds
May 6, 2002
3 Min Read
Build Awareness Overseas with Government Funds
by TracyGrainger
As the U.S. market for dietary ingredients tightens, many suppliers are looking overseas for opportunities. What if you could reach new export markets for agricultural products with matching funds from the U.S. government?
Four State Regional Trade Groups (SRTGs) are the first stop in reaching your international market. By combining federal, state and private industry funding, SRTGs offer focused programs to help companies gain international market share for agricultural products.
Companies in the United States that grow, manufacture, sell, or process agricultural products have a unique opportunity to receive export assistance from the MAP Branded Program, a matching funds reimbursement program managed by the SRTGs with assistance from the state departments of agriculture and economic development.
Thousands of companies have benefited from the matching funds program by receiving up to 50 percent reimbursement of their eligible international marketing activities. The program is focused on encouraging development, maintenance and expansion of commercial export markets for agricultural commodities and value-added products.
Eligible activities include:
Promotional Funding
Communication expenses such as media publications, billboards, TV/radio commercials, direct mail and advertising.
Product demonstrations and promotions in retail stores, including endcaps and pallet promotions.
Package and label modification. Costs associated with package and label redevelopment are eligible if the changes were necessary to meet foreign import requirements.
Production and distribution of point-of-sale materials such as catalogs, brochures and posters, and related translation costs.
Travel Funding (to international trade shows)
Airfare for two company employees on a U.S. flagged carrier.
Hotel per diem for two company employees.
Meals and incidentals per diem for two company employees.
International Trade Show Expenses Funding
Exhibitor fees (booth space, etc.).
Set-up and rental costs.
Freight costs (product literature and samples). Limited domestic activities are also eligible if they meet the program requirements.
Understanding the Requirements
Companies defined as "small" (according to the Small Business Administration) or agricultural cooperatives are eligible to apply. Additionally, companies must be incorporated in the United States and have products that are at least 50 percent U.S. agricultural content by weight. Monies for the matching funds program are available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through any of the SRTGs dedicated to the development of U.S. agricultural trade foreign markets.
However, if you don't meet the "small business" qualification for the matching funds program, there are other avenues available. The Generic and Export Training Programs are targeted to a wide range of companies. These programs are open to all U.S. companies, regardless of size, as long as their products are of at least 50 percent U.S. agricultural origin.
The Generic Program sponsors industry-wide activities benefiting companies throughout each region. Common activities include trade missions, buying missions, trade shows, in-store promotions, market research, trade seminars, and hotel and restaurant promotions. The SRTGs often coordinate joint Generic activities to benefit companies nationwide. The Export Training Programs and Resources offer companies access to leading industry export professionals for assistance in identifying, targeting and entering foreign markets.
To find out if you qualify, visitwww.brandedprogram.org, click on "Pre-Qualification Worksheet" and submit your company information. Or, if you prefer a paper application, contact your regionalSRTG.
Tracy Grainger is the program coordinator for Food Export USA - Northeast, based in Philadelphia.
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