Commerce issues export promotion grants to five non-profits

The U.S. Commerce Department said it has released $1.3 million in MDCP grants to five non-profit industry groups to help their member companies find export opportunities.    The U.S. Commerce Department said it has released $1.3 million in grants to five non-profit industry groups to help their member companies find export opportunities.
   The grants are part of the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP). Commerce said the grants are expected to generate more than $359 million in U.S. exports over the next three years.
   Each MDCP award includes financial and technical assistance from ITA to support “well-defined business plans aimed at strengthening an industry by increasing exports,” Commerce said. The goal of MDCP partnerships between the ITA and non-profit industry groups is to create U.S. jobs through exports.
   Those organizations that received MDCP grants include The Maritime Alliance, San Diego ($296,705); California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento, Calif. ($299,911); U.S.-China Environmental Education Foundation, Parsippany, N.J. ($299,107); American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Mich. ($260,112); and American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, Albuquerque, N.M. ($172,411).
   Since the MDCP’s inception in 1993, ITA has granted 146 awards to 112 organizations in 32 states. Commerce said the program has helped to generate more than $11 billion in exports over the past 23 years. “In an average year, MDCP projects generate $567 million in U.S. exports,” the department added.