Last Chance to Receive 2011 Branded Products Promotion Funds
Published: Sep 16, 2011
Brand names are of increasing importance to global consumers looking for quality and consistency. Small U.S. meat companies, however, may have an uphill battle promoting their brand names to international buyers. The USDA’s Branded Products Promotion Program – the red meat portion of which is administered through USMEF – has had success in helping small companies gain entry and establish the identity of their branded products in international markets.
As the FY11 branded program year winds down, USMEF still has funds remaining for companies that wish to hold international promotions or attend domestic trade shows for their products. Companies participating in the USMEF Branded Products Promotion Program use their own money, leveraged with matching funds from the branded products program, to develop export markets for their U.S. red meat exports. Participation in the program is limited to small companies as defined by the Small Business Administration, i.e., eligible companies with 500 or fewer employees, or be a producer cooperative or an association.
Funds from this program can help companies conduct a variety of activities in international markets, including:
Please note: Promotions funded under this program must be conducted before Dec. 31, 2011. Applications will be accepted as long as funds are available.
The branded program is a small part of the larger coordinated USMEF effort that includes generic funding from USDA’s Market Access and Foreign Market Development programs, private industry funds and funding from the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs to promote foreign sales of U.S. red meat.
Companies interested in the program should contact Barbara Watson or Tracey Zarlengo at the USMEF Denver office — (303) 623-6328 — or by e-mail at bwatson@usmef.org or tzarlengo@usmef.org for guidelines and proposal format. The application and information on the program also are available on the USMEF website, www.usmef.org.
As the FY11 branded program year winds down, USMEF still has funds remaining for companies that wish to hold international promotions or attend domestic trade shows for their products. Companies participating in the USMEF Branded Products Promotion Program use their own money, leveraged with matching funds from the branded products program, to develop export markets for their U.S. red meat exports. Participation in the program is limited to small companies as defined by the Small Business Administration, i.e., eligible companies with 500 or fewer employees, or be a producer cooperative or an association.
Funds from this program can help companies conduct a variety of activities in international markets, including:
- Attending international trade fairs and exhibits and U.S. domestic trade shows with large international attendance
- Offset costs of promotional materials used in connection with a promotion
- Help pay for costs of retail promotions, including fees for chefs, demonstration staff, costumes, signs and displays
- Help cover the cost of seminars, including interpreters, seminar materials, set-up costs/room rental, slides and production
- Translate educational materials such as company brochures and product sheets
- Conduct retail and HRI promotions
Please note: Promotions funded under this program must be conducted before Dec. 31, 2011. Applications will be accepted as long as funds are available.
- Companies that receive funding from USMEF will be charged a 5 percent administrative fee for participation in the program. The fee is 5 percent of USMEF’s financial contribution to the activity budget.
- USMEF requires a $100 submittal fee to accompany the company's request for funding. If the company completes the contracting process, these funds will be applied toward the 5 percent administrative fee.
The branded program is a small part of the larger coordinated USMEF effort that includes generic funding from USDA’s Market Access and Foreign Market Development programs, private industry funds and funding from the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs to promote foreign sales of U.S. red meat.
Companies interested in the program should contact Barbara Watson or Tracey Zarlengo at the USMEF Denver office — (303) 623-6328 — or by e-mail at bwatson@usmef.org or tzarlengo@usmef.org for guidelines and proposal format. The application and information on the program also are available on the USMEF website, www.usmef.org.