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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