Assisting U.S. manufacturers in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska

For U.S. manufacturers, import competition can range from a minor challenge to a serious threat. The Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) program enables firms to proactively respond to competition.

How the program works

TAAF partners with manufacturers by offering technical assistance and cost sharing of up to $150,000 (50 percent company match) or $30,000 (25 percent company match) to implement strategic projects that are focused on improving a firm’s internal operations and competitive abilities.

Eligible firms are assisted in two ways:

1. Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC) personnel conduct a comprehensive company assessment and create a targeted business recovery plan to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities for increased profits, job creation and long-term financial stability.
2. Eligible manufacturing firms then have five years to implement cost-shared improvement projects with consultants, engineers or other outside professional service providers engaged on behalf of the firm. Business recovery improvement funds can be implemented in areas such as manufacturing, engineering and production; marketing and sales; financial and general management; and information technology support systems.

Technical assistance and cost sharing of improvement projects enable a firm to make improvements to its competitive situation, faster and more aggressively than it could on its own.

TAAC is supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration.