Press Releases

August 2, 2010

PROMOTIONAL FUNDS BOOSTING SMALL COMPANIES' EXPORT SALES

NEW ORLEANS, LA – The Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) is now accepting applications for the 2011 Branded program. U.S. exporters are tapping into marketing resources like the Branded program and growing their businesses in what most would consider tough times. SUSTA provided Market Access Program (MAP) Branded funding to more than 70 small firms in 2009, with participants reporting nearly $95 million in sales as a result of their promotions.

Growers and food producers are able to plant the marketing dollar "seed" and double their promotional budget with MAP Branded, which reimburses 50 percent of their international marketing costs. Advertising, trade shows, labeling, and freight are just a few of the expenses MAP Branded can cover. To be eligible for the Branded program, companies must be considered small according to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) standards, have yearly sales of at least $100,000, and promote a brand-name product that is at least 50% U.S. agricultural origin.

MAP Branded is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and administered to southern U.S. companies by SUSTA. Companies based in the following states may apply for Branded funding through SUSTA: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

Companies applying for MAP Branded funds can download the 2011 Pre-Qualification Worksheet on the SUSTA website at www.susta.org/services/map_application.html. SUSTA is also still accepting applications for 2010 Branded funding. For more information, contact your state's Department of Agriculture or the SUSTA office at (504) 568-5986.

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