USDA Accepting Applications for 2016 Market Development Programs

Contact: FAS Public Affairs (202) 720-7115

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2015—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) today announced that it is accepting applications for fiscal year 2016 funding for five export market development programs. Applications for the Market Access Program, Foreign Market Development Program, Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program, Quality Samples Program and the Emerging Markets Program will be accepted until 5 p.m. EDT, June 8, 2015. 

Under the Market Access Program, USDA provides competitive, cost-share assistance to U.S. producers, exporters and trade organizations for international marketing and promotion of U.S. commodities and products. Under the Foreign Market Development Program, USDA partners with nonprofit agricultural trade associations to build longer-term international demand for U.S. commodities. The Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program funds projects that address sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. The Quality Samples Program helps agricultural trade organizations provide small samples of their products to potential importers. The Emerging Markets Program supports technical assistance activities for the promotion of U.S. farm products in emerging markets. More information about FAS market development programs can be found at www.fas.usda.gov/topics/market-development.

“With the support of these 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.

Applicants are encouraged to apply via the Unified Export Strategy online application system. Information is available at www.fas.usda.gov/unified-export-strategy. Applications may also be emailed to podadmin@fas.usda.gov or sent to: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Office of Trade Programs, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 6512-S, Washington, D.C. 20250. New applicants are encouraged to email podadmin@fas.usda.gov to request more information.

Applicants must have a Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) number for federal assistance, which can be obtained at fedgov.dnb.com/webform or by calling (866) 705-5711.

Today's announcement was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past six years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, USDA has implemented many provisions of this critical legislation, providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

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