The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it is accepting applications for 2014 funding for five export market development programs administered by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
"USDA’s market development programs provide our farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses of all sizes with the resources they need to compete in more than 100 countries," said FAS Administrator Suzanne Heinen. "Agricultural exports boost rural economies, support more than a million American jobs and play a key role in reaching the President’s National Export Initiative goal of doubling all U.S. exports by 2015."
USDA will accept applications until 5 p.m. EDT on May 13 for the Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program, Quality Samples Program (QSP) and Emerging Markets Program (EMP). Only QSP, TASC and EMP applications received after the deadline will be considered for funding if money remains.
Under MAP, USDA provides competitive, cost-share assistance to U.S. producers, exporters and trade organizations for international marketing and promotional activities for U.S. commodities and products. Under FMD, USDA partners with nonprofit agricultural trade associations to build longer-term international demand for U.S. commodities. The TASC program funds projects that address sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S.
specialty crops. QSP helps agricultural trade organizations provide small samples of their products to potential importers. EMP provides funding for technical assistance activities to promote exports to emerging markets. More information about the programs can be found at www.fas.usda.gov/programs.asp.
FAS authority to operate MAP, FMD, TASC and EMP expires at the end of FY 2013, and applicants should be aware that FY 2014 funding for these programs is not guaranteed. These programs must be reauthorized or extended by Congress before FY 2014 funding can be made available. QSP does not expire and it does not need to be reauthorized for FY 2014 funding to be made available.
Applicants are encouraged to apply via the Unified Export Strategy online application system. Information is available at www.fas.usda.gov/mos/ues/Unified.asp. Applications can also be emailed to podadmin@fas.usda.gov or hand-delivered to: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Office of Trade Programs, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 6512-S, Washington, D.C. 20250. New applicants are encouraged to email podadmin@fas.usda.gov to request more information.
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Applicants must have a Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) number for federal assistance, which can be obtained at fedgov.dnb.com/webform or by calling (866) 705-5711.
