Ask SUSTA! MAP Branded Blog

Applications for Export Funding Now Being Accepted

2011-08-01T14:12:00.003-05:00

Small businesses are constantly looking for new customers. Reaching a new market requires meeting new buyers, educating new customers, and advertising. Starting August 1, SUSTA will accept applications for the 2012 Market Access Program (MAP) Branded. The Branded program is designed to help food and agricultural companies enter export markets with 50% reimbursement for promotional costs, such as advertising, exhibiting at trade shows, and changes to packaging and labels. Download the Pre-Qualification Form from the SUSTA website today to double your international marketing budget for next year!

Eligible companies are small according to U.S. 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. MAP Branded is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and administered to southern U.S. companies by SUSTA. Companies located in any of SUSTA’s member states can apply for funding: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

SUSTA Outreach Calendar

2011-01-26T08:38:00.001-06:00

SUSTA collaborates with our member states and other industry groups to offer educational seminars and company meetings to discuss how our programs can help small businesses export. The Market Access Program (MAP) Branded and Generic activities are two ways we can help make international trade more affordable and low-risk for food and agricultural companies. Now it is easier than ever to keep up with SUSTA's export seminars! Check out our listings for events near you this year: http://www.susta.org/services/outreach_events.html

MAP Branded Funding

2011-01-14T12:25:00.003-06:00

Making New Year's resolutions? How about taking your business to a new market? Applications are still being accepted for 2011 MAP Branded funds. Expenses like advertising, traveling and exhibiting at international trade shows, changes to labels and packaging can qualify for up to 50% reimbursement. Go to www.susta.org to download the Pre-Qualification worksheet. Contact our office with questions at 504-568-5986.

Happy New Year's!

2010-12-29T14:16:00.003-06:00

From the team at SUSTA- we would like to wish you a very happy and safe New Year! We have a ton of events and activities planned for 2011 - come see at www.susta.org!

NEW! 2011 Event Calendar

2010-12-16T11:39:00.003-06:00

Visit www.susta.org to see the new 2011 Events Calendar. We hope that this calendar will be a useful planning tool for your company as you plan to venture into export markets in 2011. Please remember that you can visit our website at www.susta.org/events for all of the latest details on upcoming events and to register.

Flying Business Class

2008-06-17T10:07:00.002-05:00

Q: I like to fly business class when I travel internationally. Can I be reimbursed for the cost of my business class airline ticket when traveling on an activity for which I will request Branded reimbursement?

A: When requesting reimbursement for travel to an international trade show or approved trade mission, travelers must fly on a U.S. carrier leaving from the states and returning to the states. Travelers will be reimbursed up to 50% of the cost of a full fare coach/economy class ticket. Therefore, business or first class travelers must submit a quotation of the coach/economy class fare. The quote must be obtained around the same date the business or first class ticket was purchased. The quote cannot be submitted after the trip takes place.

Is an Unlisted Activity Reimbursable?

2008-06-12T14:01:00.002-05:00

Q: I don't see my promotional activity on the list of eligible expenses at www.susta.org/services/map.html. Are these the only types of expenses that can be reimbursed?

A: The list of eligible expenses on SUSTA's website includes some of the promotional activities reimbursable under MAP Branded; however, there are others. If you are uncertain whether an activity is eligible, contact the Branded Department to determine whether you can receive reimbursement for a specific activity.

2009 Branded Application Opens August 1

2008-06-12T13:37:00.005-05:00

The MAP Branded application for the 2009 program year (January 1-December 31) will become available starting August 1, 2008. Visit www.susta.org/services/map_application.html for more information about eligibility and application materials. Check back soon for more news about applying for international marketing funds for next year!

Oh, No! I Forgot a Photo!

2008-05-19T11:36:00.002-05:00

Q: I forgot to take a photograph of my booth at a trade show, and now I need proof of performance to be reimbursed for the activity. Is there any way I can still meet the Branded proof of performance requirements and receive funds for the show?

A: Companies are required to submit a photograph of the products displayed in the booth at the trade show. Photos must also clearly show the required U.S. origin identification. Therefore, it is important the Branded Department has photographs when reviewing expenses because of the following:

Many times companies are listed in the trade show catalog or an empty booth is present at the show, but the company decided not to exhibit after all.
A company may be promoting brands or products that are not listed in their approved Branded application. When this occurs, expenses must be prorated.

Per Diem Rates

2008-05-07T16:39:00.004-05:00

Q: Where can I find the per diem rates for lodging, meals and incidental expenses?

A: The per diem rates can be found on the U.S. Department of State's website at the following link:
http://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp

Travel Notification Forms

2008-05-05T08:38:00.002-05:00

Q: Where do I send the Travel Notification Form prior to my activity?

A: In order to receive Branded reimbursement for an activity, the Travel Notification Form must be sent to the appropriate Foreign Agricultural Service post prior to travel. The Foreign Agricultural Service overseas offices can be found using the following link:
www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/fasfield/ovs_directory_search.asp

Printed Sales Materials

2008-05-02T14:25:00.005-05:00

Q: I do not have any printed sales materials available in other languages, and I have Branded activities scheduled for markets where I do not speak the language. Can I create new materials for these upcoming promotions and request Branded reimbursement?

A: A company can be reimbursed for printed sales materials for the markets approved in their Branded application. All promotional materials in a foreign language must show an English translation. Therefore, a company should submit the English version of the materials along with the foreign printed sales materials. If a company has not submitted a Branded application and been approved for a certain market, an Activity Plan Amendment Request (APAR) form must be completed and approved by the Branded Department before the promotional activity takes place.

Activities That Have Happened

2007-10-04T14:24:00.000-05:00

Q: Can I apply for MAP Branded funds retroactively (after doing an activity)?

A: No, companies must apply and be approved for Branded funds before they can receive reimbursement for an activity. A company may receive reimbursements for eligible promotional activities that occur between the date an application is approved and the last date of the year. Any spending that occurs before the approval date is not reimbursable. However, there are four exceptions pertaining only to trade shows:

Trade show booth expense
Expenses for freight to send samples, displays, and/or literature to trade show
International airfare
Hotel deposits

Reimbursement for the above expenses is only eligible after the associated trade show occurs. These expenses cannot be reimbursed before the activity is over.

Travel Expenses

2007-09-17T15:13:00.000-05:00

Q: Can my distributor be reimbursed for travel expenses to promote my products overseas?

A: SUSTA is unable to reimburse any travel expenses for distributors, importers or consultants. SUSTA is only able to reimburse international travel expenses for two employees of the U.S. company that applied for MAP Branded funds. See the MAP Branded Participant Manual for details of eligible travel expenses.

Large Company

2007-09-14T10:27:00.001-05:00

Q: What if I am promoting products for a large company? Can they apply for MAP Branded funds?

A: Most large companies do not meet the Small Business Administration (SBA) guidelines that are used to determine whether a company qualifies for the Branded program. However, a small company can apply for funding to promote a large company's products. You would have to provide the Brand Owner Permission form, signed by the owner of the brand, to SUSTA with your MAP Branded application.

Brand Owner Permission

2007-09-11T13:32:00.000-05:00

Q: If I sign the Brand Owner Permission form in the MAP Branded application, will this give the company applying for Branded funds the right to sell my products?

A: The Brand Owner Permission form does not give the applicant company the exclusive right to sell products. The form only certifies that the company will promote the products in the country markets listed in their application for MAP Branded funding.

Company from Another Region

2007-09-10T10:57:00.001-05:00

Q: My company is based in California. Can we apply for funding with SUSTA?

A: A company from another region must contact the State Regional Trade Group (SRTG) that covers the state where their company is located (in the case of California, this is WUSATA). Four SRTGs work with small agribusinesses in different regions of the United States (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West). If the SRTG in your region is unable to assist you with funding, you may apply for funds through SUSTA.

Can Importers Apply?

2007-09-06T14:36:00.000-05:00

Q: Can a foreign importer apply for funding and get reimbursed?

A: No, SUSTA cannot directly reimburse foreign importers under MAP Branded. SUSTA works directly with companies located in the United States (mostly in the southern region of the U.S.). The U.S. company applies for MAP Branded funding by completing an application. If the company has a distributor, the company provides the importer/distributor’s contact information in the application. The U.S. company also provides the importer/distributor’s financial contribution in the application. Once the U.S. company's application is approved and the company provides the signed MAP Branded contract and administration fee (based on the approved allocation), the company works with the importer on promotional activities such as trade shows, in-store demonstrations, and advertisements. After the completion of activities, the following documentation is required for SUSTA to reimburse expenses:

The invoice from the original vendor(s) of the good or service to the importer
The proof of payment from the importer to the original vendor(s)
The invoice from the importer to the MAP Branded participant (U.S. company)
The proof of payment from the MAP Branded participant to the importer

The entire paper trail back to the original vendor(s) - whether the vendor(s) is in the United States or in a foreign country - is required for all promotional activity expenses.

Not Brand Owner

2007-09-05T14:02:00.000-05:00

Q: What if my company does not own the products I am promoting?

A: If your company does not own the brand name products you are promoting, you must have the owner(s) of the branded products sign the Brand Owner Permission Form in SUSTA's Branded Application (www.susta.org/services/map_application.html). The original signatures of the brand owner(s) and the applicant company are required on file when applying for MAP Branded funds.

New Company

2007-09-05T13:42:00.000-05:00

Q: My company is new, and does not have a brand or the required yearly sales for MAP Branded yet. Can you assist my company?

A: A company is eligible for the Branded program if the following requirements are met:

Small according to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) guidelines
- SBA determines a company’s eligibility according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. Based on a company’s primary industry, the NAICS code indicates the size standards in number of employees or the size standards in millions of dollars
Be incorporated in the United States and have a corporate office or production facility from the Southern United States Trade Association’s (SUSTA) region:
1. Alabama
2. Arkansas
3. Florida
4. Georgia
5. Kentucky
6. Louisiana
7. Maryland
8. Mississippi
9. North Carolina
10. Oklahoma
11. Puerto Rico
12. South Carolina
13. Tennessee
14. Texas
15. Virginia
16. West Virginia
Promote a product under a brand name and label the product as “Made in USA”, “Product of U.S.”, or “Made in Louisiana" (the state must be spelled out in its entirety; abbreviations are not accepted)
Products must be at least 50% U.S. agricultural origin by weight excluding added water and packaging (Note: The U.S. content of food and agricultural products is determined by the percentage of the finished product measured by weight that originates in the United States). Products must be grown in the U.S.; products that are only processed in the U.S. are not eligible.
Have sales of at least $100,000.00 in the previous years
Have sufficient products to supply to buyers

If a company is just starting up, I suggest the company do their research. Once a company meets all the necessary requirements, the company can apply for funding.