FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Monica Hill

Wednesday, October 13, 1999
202-482-3809

Commerce Department Makes Awards
To Nine Trade Groups to Support Export Development

Washington, D.C .-- Commerce Secretary William M. Daley announced today that the Commerce Department will provide $2.2 million in awards to nine non-profit trade organizations under 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 for Americans.

"Cooperator projects have been responsible for nearly $2 billion in exports since the program began in 1993," Secretary Daley said. "This is just one more example of how public-private sector partnerships are working to increase U.S. exports from small- and medium-sized businesses and provide economic opportunity for Americans."

The nine award recipients are: Central America -

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Coral Gables, Florida
• Coastal Enterprises, Inc., Wicasset, Maine
• Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, Los Angeles, California
• State of Missouri Office of International Marketing, Jefferson, Missouri
• National Electrical Manufacturers of America, Rosslyn, Virginia
• South Dakota International Business Institute, Aberdeen, South Dakota
• Software and Information Industry Association, Washington, DC
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC
• World Trade Center Association of San Diego, San Diego, California

The $2.2 million Commerce Department outlay for 1999 awards will be matched by a $4.7 million investment by the trade organizations winning the awards. MDCP awards help to underwrite the start-up costs of innovative new export marketing ventures which these groups are often reluctant to undertake without federal support.

Since 1993, forty-seven (47) awards have been made under the MDCP initiative. When all projects funded to date have been completed, the private sector will have spent over $38 million to develop foreign markets compared to a federal investment of $14.7 million. Now in its seventh year, the MDCP is increasing U.S. exports and creating jobs for Americans by:

• challenging the private sector to think strategically about foreign markets;
• encouraging private sector innovation and investment in export marketing;
• increasing the number of American companies active in exporting.

The MDCP is a competitive matching grants program that builds public/private partnerships by providing federal assistance to non-profit export multipliers such as states, trade associations, chambers of commerce, world trade centers, and other non-profit industry groups that are particularly effective in reaching small- and medium-sized enterprises. Organizations interested in the MDCP can obtain additional information by calling Brad Hess at the Commerce Department: tel. (202) 482-2969, or by visiting the MDCP web site at www.ita.doc.gov/industry/opcrm/mdcp.html.

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