between-intakes Federal Grant

ITA Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP)

U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA), Department of Commerce

Up to $300,000/year

Visit official program ↗ Get early access to matching

The short version

ITA funds trade orgs to open foreign markets for U.S. SMB sectors

ITA's Market Development Cooperator Program funds U.S. trade associations, state agencies, and export promotion organizations to develop overseas markets for U.S. industries and small businesses. Grants pay for export market research, overseas trade show participation, buyer matchmaking, and foreign market development activities on behalf of entire industry sectors. Individual SMBs do not apply to MDCP directly — their trade association applies and uses grant funds to build the market on behalf of all member companies.

Funding type: Grant
Level: Federal
Amount range: $150,000 – $300,000
Realistic amount: Most MDCP awards are $150,000–$250,000 per year. Awards are to trade associations and export promotion organizations, no…
Deadline: No FY2026 competition announced as of May 2026. FY2025 NOFO closed. Check trade.gov/MDCP and grants.gov CFDA 11.112 for updates.
Status: between-intakes
States: Nationwide
Payment model: reimbursement

Who qualifies

Eligible applicants: U.S. trade associations, state export promotion agencies, nonprofit industry organizations — NOT individual for-profit businesses
Organization must represent a U.S. industry sector seeking to develop export markets
Proposed project must focus on developing overseas markets for U.S. goods or services, not domestic promotion
Required non-federal cost match of at least 50% (dollar-for-dollar)
Active SAM.gov registration required
Organization must have experience in export promotion or trade development activities

Hard requirements

Must be incorporated
Funds intermediaries, not businesses directly

What it covers

Eligible expenses

Overseas trade show participation costs (exhibit space, shipping, logistics)
Foreign buyer matchmaking missions and reverse trade missions
Market research and export market intelligence for the target industry
Translation of promotional materials into foreign languages
Web and digital marketing for overseas market development
Staff salaries for export promotion activities
Overseas representation and in-country promotion activities

Ineligible expenses

Domestic promotion or marketing to U.S. buyers
Individual company sales and marketing costs (MDCP is sector-wide, not company-specific)
Lobbying or political activity
Purchasing or shipping goods for resale
Costs incurred before award execution

How to apply

1

Identify your industry's trade association and MDCP status

For SMBs: Find your sector's trade association and ask whether they have an active MDCP grant or are planning to apply. If your association has an MDCP award, contact them to access subsidized export services (trade missions, buyer matchmaking, market research).

~2 hrs
2

For associations: Develop a market development plan

Identify the specific overseas markets your industry needs to develop and the activities (trade shows, matchmaking, market research, promotional materials) that will achieve measurable export expansion. MDCP evaluates proposals on the specificity and feasibility of the market development strategy.

~20 hrs
3

Prepare application and cost-share documentation

Complete SF-424, project narrative, 3-year budget, and cost-share documentation. Cost-share must be cash or in-kind from non-federal sources (member dues, state agency contributions, industry partner contributions). Minimum 50% non-federal share required.

~30 hrs
4

Submit via grants.gov

Upload complete application to grants.gov under CFDA 11.112 before the NOFO deadline. ITA MDCP staff review applications; no pre-application consultation process unlike EDA.

~4 hrs

Insider tip

SMBs access MDCP benefits through their trade association, not directly from ITA. Ask your association if they have an active MDCP award — if so, reduced-cost trade missions and buyer matchmaking are available to members.

Deadline & timing

ITA typically releases the MDCP NOFO in late winter or spring with a 60–90 day application window. Funded projects run 2–3 years. The program has operated since 1981 and typically awards 10–20 cooperative agreements per cycle. For individual SMBs: contact your industry trade association to ask if they have or are applying for an MDCP award.

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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.