For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Dyke, Curt Cultice, 202-482-4883/3809

October 19, 2001

Commerce Department Award to Montana
World Trade Center to Promote Local Exports

Montana World Trade Center at The University of Montana (MWTC)

U.S. Commerce Secretary Donald Evans today announced a $397,454 financial assistance award to The Montana World Trade Center at The University of Montana (MWTC). The center will establish retail outlets in Ireland and Taiwan that will allow small consumer-goods firms to test markets, modify products, and identify distributors. MWTC will help firms with high-potential products to access pre-screened distributors and other buyers through federal export programs, an online trade mall, translated product catalogs, and export and e-business training.

The funds are made available through the Commerce Department's Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP), a public-private partnership developed to help small- and medium-sized U.S. firms expand exports that support jobs. The MDCP is a competitive matching grants program that builds partnerships by providing federal assistance to non-profit organizations involved in export promotion.

"The Cooperator program enables American businesses to take the risks necessary to innovate, and to pursue profitable export markets," Evans said. "Now, more than ever, we must be diligent in our efforts to expand trade and economic opportunity for America and around the world."

In his announcement, Secretary Evans identified six other organizations from across the country that will also receive MDCP awards. The seven awards, which total $2.3 million, will go to the non-profit organizations listed below:

• World Trade Center Association, Los Angeles-Long Beach, Long Beach, Calif.
• The Montana World Trade Center at The University of Montana, Missoula, Mont.
• Alameda Center for Environmental Technology, Alameda, Calif.
• National Association of Credit Management, Inc., Columbia, Md.
• Intelligent Transportation Society of America, Washington, D.C.
• Evergreen Building Products Association, Tacoma, Wash.
• Association for Manufacturing Technology, McLean, Va.

These organizations will dedicate an additional $5.3 million dollars for export promotion to the $2.3 million in awards by the Commerce Department.

Since 1993, the Commerce Department has made 61 MDCP awards totalling $19 million.

When all projects funded to date have been completed, the private/public partnership to develop foreign markets will have totaled $67 million.

Organizations interested in the MDCP can obtain information by calling Brad Hess at the Commerce Department: tel. (202) 482-2969, or by visiting the MDCP web site at www.export.gov/mdcp.

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