Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 2.djvu/1053

 PUBLIC LAW 96-481—OCT. 21, 1980

94 STAT. 2331

information center on Federal Government export assistance, financing programs available to small business, and other provisions of law governing exporting for small business. (c) Not later than six months after the enactment of this title, the Secretary of Commerce shall report to the Select Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on the progress made in implementing the provisions of this section. (d) Within two years after the date of enactment of this title, the Secretary of Commerce shall evaluate these export promotion centers, including, but not limited to, an analysis of the effectiveness of the centers in developing and expanding small business exports, and a comparison of the effectiveness of the centers in relation to district offices of the Department of Commerce which do not have an export promotion center. Such evaluation shall be submitted to the committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives referred to in subsection (c). (e) This section shall take effect on October 1, 1980, or on the date of the enactment of this section whichever occurs later and shall expire on October 1, 1983. SEC. 302. (a) The Secretary of Commerce (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") is authorized to make grants (including contracts and cooperative agreements) to a qualified applicant to encourage the development and implementation of a small business international marketing program (hereinafter referred to as "the program"). Each qualified applicant under this title may receive a Federal grant not to exceed $150,000 annually for each of three years: Provided, That not more than one-third of these Federal funds may be used for the purpose of hiring personnel. Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing the Secretary to enter into contracts or incur obligations except to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts. (b)(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.

Report to congressional committees.

Evaluations, submittal to congressional committees.

Effective date. 15 USC 649a note. Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. 15 USC 649b.

Application requirements.

Program outreach services.

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