15 USC 649b - Grants, contracts and cooperative agreements for international marketing programs

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 649b.

Grants, contracts and cooperative agreements for international marketing programs

(a)

Limitations and restrictions

(b)

Eligibility

(1)

To be eligible for a grant under this section, an applicant proposing to carry out a small business international marketing program must submit to the Secretary an application demonstrating, at a minimum:

(A)

the geographical area to be served;

(B)

the number of firms to be assisted;

(C)

the staff required to administer the program;

(D)

the means to counsel small businesses interested in pursuing export sales, including providing information concerning available financing, credit insurance, tax treatment, potential markets and marketing assistance, export pricing, shipping, documentation, and foreign financing and business customs;

(E)

the ability to provide market analysis of the export potential of small business concerns; and

(F)

the capability for developing contacts with potential foreign customers and distributors for  small  business  and  their  products, including arrangements and sponsorship of foreign trade missions for small business concerns to meet with identified potential customers, distributors, sales representatives, and organizations interested in licensing or joint ventures: Provided, however, That no portion of any Federal funds may be used to directly underwrite any small business participation in foreign trade missions abroad.

(2)

Program services shall be provided to small business concerns through outreach services at the most local level practicable.

(3)

Each small business international marketing program shall have a full-time staff director to manage program activities, and access to export specialists to counsel and to assist small business clients in international marketing.

(c)

Advisory board establishment

(1)

Each small business international marketing program shall establish an advisory board of nine members to be appointed by the staff director of the program, not less than five members of whom shall be small business persons or representatives of small business associations.

(2)

Each advisory board shall elect a chairman and shall advise, counsel, and confer with the staff director of the program on all policy matters pertaining to the operation of the program (including who may be eligible to receive assistance, ways to promote the sale of United States products and services in foreign markets or to encourage tourism in the United States, and how to maximize local and regional private consultant participation in the program).

(d)

Grant requirements

(e)

Program evaluation; reports

The Secretary shall develop a plan to evaluate programs approved under this section which shall only—

(1)

determine the impact of small business international marketing programs on those small businesses assisted;

(2)

determine the amount of export sales generated by small businesses assisted through such programs; and

(3)

make recommendations concerning continuation and/or expansion of the program and possible improvements in the program structure. Such evaluation shall be submitted to the Congress by October 1, 1982.

(f)

Recipients’ duty to furnish information

(g)

“Applicant” defined

(h)

Contract authority

(Pub. L. 96–481, title III, § 302, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2331.)

cite as: 15 USC 649b