Commerce gives $1.7 million in export project grants

Commerce gives $1.7 million in export project grants    The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday gave out more than $1.7 million in grants to support projects that increase U.S. exports, create jobs and strengthen the country’s global competitiveness.
   The grants were awarded to five nonprofit industry organizations and are expected to generate $265 million in U.S. exports.
   The department's Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) awards include financial and technical assistance from the International Trade Administration (ITA). An MDCP award establishes a partnership between ITA and nonprofit industry groups to help strengthen global competitiveness and create jobs through exports.

Locke

   'The MDCP is a good example of how public-private sector partnerships can leverage limited public resources to help small- and medium-sized businesses expand their exports to compete in the global marketplace,” said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, in a statement.
   2010 Market Development Cooperator Program award recipients are:
   ' University Health System Consortium, Oak Brook, Ill., $498,801.
   ' National Chamber Foundation, Washington, D.C., $425,400.
   ' World Trade Center San Diego, San Diego, Calif., $425,000.
   ' Industrial Fabrics Association International, Roseville, Minn., $250,000.
   ' Independent Film & Television Alliance, Los Angeles, Calif., $248,267.
   The Commerce grants will be matched by a $5.2 million investment by the nonprofit industry recipients, who pledged to pay a minimum of two-thirds of the project costs and to sustain the projects after the two-to-three-year MDCP award period ends.
   Since MDCP’s inception in 1993, Commerce has made 102 awards under the program. In an average year, MDCP is projected to generate $219 million in U.S. exports.