SEMA to receive US export development grant

The US Department of Commerce named the Specialty Equipment Market Association, or SEMA, as one of the five recipients of its Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) for 2011. As a result, the trade association will receive US$500,000 in matching funds over the next three years to support US manufacturers that export automotive specialty-equipment products to booming emerging international markets. The grant is intended to stimulate US exports of specialty-equipment products as part of the Administration's National Export Initiative, which aims to double US exports by 2014 in support of several million US jobs.

“SEMA is pleased to partner with the Commerce Department to expand the association’s initiatives bringing together US manufacturers with distributors and retailers in the fastest-growing markets in the world,” said SEMA president and CEO Chris Kersting. “The fact that SEMA has been selected for a MDCP award from the US Department of Commerce reinforces the value of our growing Business Development Conference program and provides financial support to Members seeking to participate in this and other association export initiatives.”