Applications for Export Funding Now Being Accepted

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

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

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!

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

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

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?

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.