Market Development Cooperator Program 2012

ITA requests that eligible organizations submit proposals (applications) for the fiscal year (FY) 2012 competition for MDCP awards. ITA creates economic opportunity for U.S. workers and firms by promoting international trade and investment, strengthening industry competitiveness, and ensuring fair trade.

Entities that fall within the following categories are generally found to be eligible to apply for an MDCP award: trade associations; state departments of trade and their regional associations; and non-profit industry organizations, including organizations such as World Trade Centers, centers for international trade development, and small business development centers. In cases where no entity described above represents the industry, private industry firms or groups of firms may be eligible to apply for an MDCP award. Such private industry firms or groups of firms must provide documentation in their applications demonstrating that no entity in the first three categories listed below represents their industry. 1. Trade Association A trade association is a fee-based organization consisting of member firms in the same industry, or in related industries, or which share common commercial concerns. The purpose of the trade association is to further the commercial interests of its members through the exchange of information, legislative activities, and the like. 2. Non-Profit Industry Organization To be found eligible within this category an entity must be found to be a/an: a. Non-profit small business development center operating under agreement with the Small Business Administration; or b. Non-profit World Trade Center chartered or recognized by the non-profit World Trade Centers Association; or c. Organization granted status as a non-profit organization under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3), (4), (5), or (6), which operates as one of the following: (1) Chamber of commerce; (2) Board of trade; (3) Business, export or trade council/interest group; (4) Visitors bureau or tourism promotion group; (5) Economic development group; (6) Standards-developing or conformity-assessment organization; (7) Small business development center; or (8) Port authority. 3. State Departments of Trade and Their Regional Associations To be eligible within this category an entity must be found to be a/an: a. Department of a state government tasked with promoting trade, tourism, or another type of economic development; or b. Association of the departments of trade (as defined above) of two or more states; or c. Entity within a state or within a region that is associated with a state department of trade, tourism, or other type of economic development including non-profit, non-private, non-commercial entities which is at least partially funded by, directed by, or tasked by a state government to promote trade, tourism, or another type of economic development. 4. Special Note Regarding Educational Institutions Educational institutions, such as schools, colleges, and universities, are not eligible. However, organizations that are part of or affiliated with an educational institution for administrative, accounting, financial, legal, or logistical reasons may be eligible. Such organizations that are not independent legal entities, for example, an unincorporated organization, that otherwise may be classified above under III.A. Eligible Applicants, above, as a trade association, non-profit industry association, or state department of trade and its regional associations, are eligible. In such a case, the eligible organization will include in its application a signed letter from the educational institution stating that MDCP funds will be used only by the eligible organization for the purposes outlined in its application and that no such funds will be used by or retained by the educational institution, even though the funds may need to go through the educational institution because of the eligible organization's lack of a separate accounting system or lack of status as a separate legal entity.

Steve Drescher Policy Advisor