U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo recently announced six new financial awards designed to create or sustain high-quality export jobs across the U.S. in key industries. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration administers the Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP). It is awarding more than $1.7 million in financial and technical assistance to promote U.S. exports and reduce barriers to U.S. products and services across the world.
Louisiana will receive an award of $300,000 with a $603,000 match by the Louisiana Office of Tourism. The goal of the award is to increase promotion of Louisiana as a top travel destination in the emerging markets of Milan, Italy; Madrid, Spain; and, Mumbai, India.
“International visitors are critical to the successful growth of the tourism industry in Louisiana,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “This award will help us to expand our promotion of all the ways you can Feed Your Soul in our great state to new visitors across the globe.”
Non-profit industry groups compete each year for up to $300,000 in federal funding for innovative and sustainable MDCP projects that help U.S. business compete internationally and create or sustain jobs. Each year, MDCP projects support 14,000 U.S. jobs.
“The U.S. Department of Commerce is pleased to support the Louisiana Office of Tourism’s export initiative,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Tourism is a critical sector of Louisiana’s economy, and attracting more visitors and increasing visitor spending has the potential to create new, good-paying jobs for Louisianans and bring in revenue for rural and underserved areas of the state.”
More information is available at the Market Development Cooperator Program webpage.