CCC Announces Availability of Funds for Projects Addressing TBTs for Specialty Crops
The Commodity Credit Corporation said it's accepting proposals by May 21, 2012, for its 2013 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program, which is designed to assist U.S. organizations by providing funding for projects that address sanitary, phytosanitary, or related technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. U.S. specialty crops, for the purpose of the TASC program, are defined to include all cultivated plants, or the products thereof, produced in the U.S., except wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, and tobacco.
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Projects Designed to Address TBTs Prohibiting or Threatening Exports
TASC program projects should be designed to address the following criteria: (1) projects should identify and address a sanitary, phytosanitary, or related technical barrier that prohibits or threatens the export of U.S. specialty crops; (2) projects should demonstrably benefit the represented industry rather than a specific company or brand; (3) projects must address barriers to exports of commercially-available U.S. specialty crops for which barrier removal would predominantly benefit U.S. exports; and (4) projects should include an explanation as to what specifically could not be accomplished without Federal funding assistance and why the participating organization(s) would be unlikely to carry out the project without such assistance.
All Entities Eligible; Foreign Governments may Participate as Third Parties
Any U.S. organization, private or government, with a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S. agricultural commodities may apply to the program. Government organizations consist of federal, state, and local agencies. Private organizations include non-profit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and private companies. Foreign organizations, whether government or private, may participate as third parties in activities carried out by U.S. organizations, but are not eligible for funding assistance from the program.