FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
For more information contact:
Bill Clary
(502) 564-1137

 

Kentucky agricultural businesses encouraged to apply for export funding

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Small agricultural companies in Kentucky and other southern states may apply for funding from the 2012 Market Access Program (MAP) Branded to get help for entering export markets.

“Many Kentucky agricultural businesses have taken advantage of MAP Branded to become exporters of fine Kentucky farm products,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “This program gives small Kentucky businesses an opportunity to grow. I encourage all Kentucky agricultural businesses that are considering exporting to look into this program.”

Under the MAP Branded program, businesses seeking to enter export markets may be reimbursed up to 50 percent for promotional and international marketing costs. To be eligible for the Branded program, companies must be considered 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 percent U.S. agricultural origin.

MAP Branded is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and administered to companies in SUSTA’s 15 member states and Puerto Rico.

Kentucky agricultural exports were valued at nearly $2 billion in 2009, according to the Kentucky office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

A pre-qualification form may be downloaded on the SUSTA website at www.susta.org. For more information on MAP Branded, contact Kelly Ludwig or Jonathan Van Balen in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s marketing office at (502) 564-4983.