Apr 07, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today the Federal Register announced that the Commodity Credit Corporation is inviting proposals for the FY2016 Market Access (MAP), Foreign Market Development (FMD), and Emerging Market Programs. These cost-share programs help expand commercial export markets for American products and typically contribute a significant portion of the USA Rice Federation's international promotion budget.
"In the current fiscal year, USA Rice received $4.2 million in MAP and FMD funds that enable us to conduct important marketing and promotional work for all types and forms of U.S. rice in more than 30 countries," said USA Rice Vice President of International Promotion Jim Guinn. "We can clearly demonstrate our successful trade servicing and market promotion programs using the current funding, and will build on this as we submit a new application for FY2016."
Each year's allocation is the result of a competitive review of past program performance and industry support for the promotion programs. Approximately 90 cooperator groups compete for MAP/FMD funds, with new cooperator groups being added each year.
USA Rice's proposal, which is typically about 300 pages, is due by June 8, 2015. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects to award funds in October 2015.
"With the support of these Foreign Ag Service (FAS) market development programs, U.S. agricultural exports last fiscal year reached a record $152.5 billion. Those exports supported more than one million high-quality, good-paying U.S. jobs" said FAS Administrator Phil Karsting.
Contact: Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457