Del.icio.us  Digg  facebook  MySpace  Twitter  Google  Bookmark Me  LinkedIn  StumbleUpon  Permalink

Program Makes Connection for Potential Exporters

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan was in Minneapolis Thursday to help launch a year-long, multi-city campaign designed to help connect small and medium sized businesses with the resources they need to export their food and agricultural goods overseas. At the "New Markets, New Jobs" conference, Merrigan announced a $200.000 grant to four state regional trade groups meant to assist 400 food and agricultural enterprises reach new markets.

"USDA is focused on stimulating growth, creating jobs, and setting in place a framework for a robust future for the rural economy," Merrigan said. "And by increasing support for NEI and American small and medium enterprises, we're saying that we're committed to making strategic investments to grow the economy in the future."

USDA's Market Access Program helps U.S. producers, exporters, private companies, and other trade organizations finance promotional activities for U.S. agricultural products. The new grant will help to support special seminars and mentoring for 400 food and agricultural small and medium enterprises across the country.