|
The Branded Program reimburses participants for up to half of their
international marketing and promotional expenses, including the cost
of foreign trade shows, international travel, advertising, product
demonstrations, point-of-sale materials, and package and label
modifications to meet foreign import requirements.
"Illinois is the third-largest exporter of agricultural
commodities in the United States and relies upon foreign trade for
nearly 40 percent of its agricultural income," Blagojevich said.
"The Branded Program offers a cost-effective opportunity for
Illinois food companies to build name recognition in global markets,
increase export sales that are so essential to the well-being of our
agriculture industry and help put more people to work."
The Food Export Association of the Midwest, a nonprofit
association of state agricultural promotion agencies, administers
the Branded Program. Funding comes from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service through its Market Access
Program.
Program participants must fit the U.S. Small Business
Administration's definition of a "small company" and be incorporated
in the United States. In addition, at least half of their products
must be made with domestic ingredients. Agriculture cooperatives and
export agents that work on behalf of U.S. food companies also are
eligible for assistance, provided they meet program requirements.
"This cost-share assistance is intended to spur growth in an
industry that includes more than 1,500 companies and employs about
85,000 Illinoisans," Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke said. "It's
an important investment in the prosperity not only of our food
processing industry, but also our state economy."
The Illinois Department of Agriculture is sponsoring a free
workshop to help companies complete the application process. The
workshop, which also will cover the reimbursement process, will be
Oct. 24 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Hilton Suites in Oakbrook Terrace.
To register, call Sarah Potter, Bureau of Marketing and Promotion,
at 217-782-2581 before Oct. 18.
[to top of second column]
 |
 Interested companies that cannot attend the free workshop still
can apply for matching funds by completing an online application.
The "Branded Program Pre-Qualification Worksheet" can be obtained at
www.brandedprogram.org.
The available funds are for the 2007 program year. They will
reimburse international marketing activities occurring between Jan.
1 and Dec. 31, 2007.
Blagojevich recently announced that Illinois' export figures
continue to show significant growth, with more than $20.5 billion in
exports reported for the first half of 2006, a 16.5 percent increase
from the first half of 2005. The governor also highlighted the work
of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's
Office of Trade and Investment in helping Illinois companies grow
their businesses by pursuing overseas markets. Earlier this year
Blagojevich celebrated Illinois' third consecutive year of increased
exports and the greatest one-year increase in more than 10 years.
Since 2002, Illinois exports have grown by more than $10 billion,
a 40 percent increase, which is the largest percentage increase
among the top exporting states. Direct exports amounted to
approximately 6.4 percent of the gross state product in 2005, and
there are an estimated 485,600 Illinois jobs supported by exports.
Top countries for Illinois' exports are Canada, Mexico, Japan, the
United Kingdom, Germany and Australia. Top sectors are machinery,
chemicals, computer and electronic products, transportation
equipment, electrical equipment, and food and kindred products. This
data comes from the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research,
which compiles its information from the U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign
Trade Division.
[News release]
|
