The U.S. Meat Export Federation announced it still has funds available in its branded products promotion program to help small U.S. companies that want to promote their products in international markets between now and the end of the year.

Funds from this program can be used to attend international and approved domestic shows with large international attendance and assist with travel costs to attend international trade shows. The funds cannot be used for domestic promotions or to attend domestic shows. 

Branded funds can be used to:

• offset costs of point-of-sale materials used in connection with an international promotion or trade show
• help pay for costs of international retail promotions, including fees for chefs, costumes, signs, displays and fees for demonstration staff
• help cover the cost of international seminars, including interpreters, seminar materials, set-up costs, room rental, slides and production and translation of educational materials such as company brochures and product sheets.

Promotions funded under this program must take place before Dec. 31, 2010. 

Eligible applicants must be companies with 500 or fewer employees or be a producer cooperative or association.  Companies that receive funding from USMEF will be charged a 5 percent administrative fee for participation in the program. USMEF also requires a $100 application fee to accompany the company's request for funding, which will be applied toward the 5 percent administrative fee.

Companies interested in the program should contact Barbara Watson at USMEF’s Denver office for guidelines and proposal format. She can reached at 303-623-6328 or bwatson@usmef.org.

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