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WASHINGTON, March 30, 2007—The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it is accepting applications for five export market development programs. The programs are the Market Access Program (MAP), the Emerging Markets Program (EMP), the Quality Samples Program (QSP), the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program and the Foreign Market Development Cooperator (FMD) program. All the programs are designed to help expand commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and are administered by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Applications for funding are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, May 14, 2007. The MAP helps U.S. trade organizations and small-sized entities create, expand and maintain foreign markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products. MAP participants must contribute a minimum of 10 percent of the cost of generic marketing and promotion activities and 50 percent for branded promotions. The EMP assists U.S. public and private organizations in improving market opportunities for U.S. agricultural products in low- to middle-income countries with market potential. The program can be used for technical assistance, such as activities that focus on trade capacity building or addressing technical barriers to trade. The EMP has a cost-sharing requirement. The QSP helps U.S. organizations supply samples of U.S. commodities to potential foreign buyers and provides technical assistance regarding product quality and proper use as a means to encourage new purchases. The program supports projects that benefit whole industries rather than individual companies. When a project is finished, USDA reimburses the costs for procuring and exporting the samples. The TASC program helps open, retain and expand markets for U.S. specialty crops. Resources are provided to address barriers, including phytosanitary or related technical restrictions that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. Specialty crops include all cultivated plants and their products produced in the United States except wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar and tobacco. The FMD program provides funds to assist nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations in developing and maintaining foreign markets for U.S. agricultural products through a cost-share program. FMD funds are allocated to U.S. trade organizations with the broadest possible producer representation. Priority is given to organizations that are nationwide in membership and scope. Activities must contribute to the maintenance or growth of demand for agricultural commodities and generally address long-term foreign import constraints and export growth opportunities. Applicants can submit a single application for all export assistance programs using the on-line Unified Export Strategy (UES). The Web-based application is on the Internet at http://www.fas.usda.gov/cooperators.html. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to apply through the Internet. To do so, contact FAS’ Program Policy Staff by calling (202) 720-4327 for a log-on ID and password. All applicants must obtain a Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) number for federal assistance prior to submitting applications. Information and numbers may be obtained by calling 1-866-705-5711. Applications not submitted via the Internet can be hand-delivered to: USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service, Program Policy Staff, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20024; or mailed to: USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service, Program Policy Staff, Stop 1042, 1400 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, DC 20250-1042. Details on application procedures for these programs can be found on the Internet at http://www.fas.usda.gov/info/fr/notices.asp. General information about the Foreign Agricultural Service can be found at http://www.fas.usda.gov. # PR 0035-07
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