Release Date: 2008-08-11
Original Link: http://presszoom.com/story_145771.html
Under the Market Access Program (MAP) Branded, SUSTA has provided more than $5 million to support the cost of marketing brand-name U.S. products overseas through promotional activities such as advertising, in-store demonstrations, exhibiting at trade shows, and modifying packaging and labeling to meet import requirements.
(PressZoom.com) - Southern small business can start applying now for international marketing funds for their 2009 campaigns from the MAP Branded program administered by SUSTA (Southern U.S. Trade Association).
Under the Market Access Program (MAP) Branded, SUSTA has provided more than $5 million to support the cost of marketing brand-name U.S. products overseas through promotional activities such as advertising, in-store demonstrations, exhibiting at trade shows, and modifying packaging and labeling to meet import requirements.
Last year, SUSTA assisted companies marketing branded U.S. products overseas who reported more than $161 million in export sales. The total value in 2007 of U.S. agricultural exports increased to $82 billion, the highest amount ever.
More than 90 southern U.S. companies applied to SUSTA for the 2008 matching funds. Forty-seven Georgia companies are listed as exporters on the SUSTA website. To be eligible for the Branded program, companies must be considered small by 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.
The 2009 Branded application is available for download on the SUSTA website at www.susta.org/services/map_application.html. For more information, contact Maggie Adamack or Beth Miller at 404-656-3740 in the Georgia Department of Agriculture International Trade Office.
Or contact: Mary Beth Wesdock – Southern U.S. Trade Association (SUSTA) (504) 568-5986 marybeth@susta.org www.susta.org
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