The Southern U.S. Trade Association, or SUSTA, is accepting applications for a program that will help small agricultural companies in the South sell products abroad.
Companies chosen for the 2012 Market Access Program Branded will be reimbursed for up to half the costs associated with marketing their products internationally. Relevant costs include advertising, participating in trade shows and changing labels and packaging.
Georgia is among 15 states (plus Puerto Rico) included in SUSTA’s membership.
“Each year, dozens of small businesses tap new export markets that were otherwise unreachable without the funding assistance that we offer,” said Jerry Hingle, the association’s executive director.
Growers, food producers, distributors and manufacturers are eligible if they have annual revenues of $100,000 and qualify as a small business according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
According to the SBA, crop producers are considered small businesses if they have less than $750,000 in annual sales. Most agricultural service providers – such as harvesters and farm managers – must have revenues of less than $7 million to qualify.
Visit www.susta.org/services/map.html to learn more about the program.
