USMEF Offers Matching Funds for Promotion

May 8, 2000

The U.S. Meat Export Federation is accepting applications from small companies interested in receiving matching funds for promotion activities overseas for branded U.S. red meat products. Small companies are defined as those with 500 or fewer employees.

Allocations to private companies will be based on the expected effectiveness of the proposed activities and adherence to USDA Foreign Agricultural Service regulations. Proposals received by June 15 will receive priority for fund, and promotions funded will apply to July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2001. Although the deadline for proposals is June 15, applications will be accepted as long as funds are available.

Companies that receive USMEF funding will be charged a 15% administrative fee for participating. The fee is based on the total amount of awards received through USMEF and is non-refundable. It is not prorated if the company fails to spend the full level of its award.

USMEF also requires a $500 submission fee to accompany the company’s request for funding which will go toward the 15% fee. If the submission fee exceeds the 15% administrative fee, or if the company does not receive funding, the excess funds will be returned to the company. The funds are not refundable if the company does not complete the contracting process.

USDA’s FAS, under the Market Access Program agreement with the USMEF, administers a branded products promotion program for U.S. red meat and red meat products. Advertising in foreign markets usually is limited to trade advertising or advertising used to support specific local promotions.

An application outline is available on the Internet at http://www.usmef.org/NEWS/MAPBPP.htm. Companies interested should contact Barbara Watson at USMEF’s Denver office at (303) 623-MEAT.