ADDITIONAL MEA SERVICES
MEA Trade Adjustment Assistance: MATAAC

If your manufacturing company has been negatively affected by off-shore competition, you may qualify for financial assistance from a U.S. government Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC). MEA sponsors the MidAtlantic Trade Adjustment Assistance Center, which covers a five-state area, PA, DE, WV, VA, ME.

The MidAtlantic Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (MATAAC) program helps manufacturers proactively to respond to import competition. No matter whether imports represent a minor challenge or a serious threat, MATAAC can make a difference.

MATAAC partners with a manufacturer by conducting a comprehensive business analysis and plan and then offering a 50/50 cost sharing of projects aimed at improving the firm's competitiveness. The funds can be applied toward the cost of consultants, engineers or other outside professional service providers engaged on behalf of the firm to implement improvement projects in areas such as manufacturing, engineering, marketing, systems, quality and finance. This assistance enables a firm to make sweeping improvements to its competitive situation, faster and more aggressively that it could on its own.

Since 1974, MATAAC has helped thousands of U.S. manufacturers strengthen and solidify their competitive positions and prosper in the global marketplace.

A network of twelve Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers manages this federally sponsored program. These Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers are staffed with experienced business professionals that guide manufacturers through each phase of the program - from application to project completion. Basic parameters for entering the program include declines in sales and employment at least partially due to import competition.

For more information please go to the MATAAC website www.mataac.org or contact the MATAAC at 550 Township Line Road, Suite 450, Blue Bell, PA 19422; phone: (610) 825-7819 or (800) 566-7522; fax: (610) 825-7708; e-mail: general@mataac.org.