U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced more than $1.7 million in grants to support projects that increase U.S. exports, create jobs and strengthen our global competitive edge.  The grants will be awarded to five nonprofit industry organizations and are expected to generate $265 million in U.S. exports. 

The Commerce Department’s Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) awards include financial and technical assistance from the International Trade Administration (ITA) to support well-defined business plans aimed at increasing exports and U.S. competitiveness within certain industries. An MDCP award establishes a partnership between ITA and nonprofit industry groups to help strengthen global competitiveness and create jobs through exports. Projects receiving funding include efforts to increase exports among small manufacturers of water treatment equipment and independent film makers.

“These funds will help U.S. firms compete globally so they can sell more of their goods and services abroad and create jobs here in the U.S.,” Locke said. “The MDCP is a good example of how public-private sector partnerships can leverage limited public resources to help small- and medium-sized businesses expand their exports to compete in the global marketplace.”  

These cooperative agreements help to further President Obama’s National Export Initiative, which aims to double U.S. exports within the next five years in support of several million U.S. jobs.

The five recipients of the 2010 Market Development Cooperator Program awards are:

• University Health System Consortium, Oak Brook, Ill. – $498,801
• National Chamber Foundation, Washington, D.C. – $425,400
• World Trade Center San Diego, San Diego, Calif. – $425,000
• Industrial Fabrics Association International, Roseville, Minn. – $250,000
• Independent Film & Television Alliance, Los Angeles, Calif. – $248,267

The Commerce Department grants will be matched by a $5.2 million investment by the nonprofit industry recipients, who pledged to pay a minimum of two-thirds of the project costs and to sustain the projects after the two-to-three-year MDCP award period ends.

Since MDCP's inception in 1993, Commerce has made 102 awards under the program. In an average year, MDCP is projected to generate $219 million in U.S. exports.

For more information about the Market Development Cooperator Program, please visit trade.gov/mdcp.