Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAA)

Providing financial assistance to manufacturers affected by import competition

Subtitled "Management and Mentoring Assistance for Small Businesses" and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce, this cost-sharing federal assistance program pays for half the cost of consultants or industry-specific experts for projects that improve a manufacturer's competitiveness. Import-impacted manufacturers can receive matching funds for projects that strengthen operations and sharpen competitiveness.

A network of 12 regional, nonprofit organizations manages the TAA program. Known as Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (TAACs), their staffs consist of experienced business professionals who have worked with thousands of manufacturers since the program's inception in 1974.

The staff works to simplify a firm's participation in the program by preparing the application and guiding a firm through each phase of the program. Staff members also make presentations to trade associations, economic development groups, consulting firms, banks, and other groups that work closely with manufacturers, for the purpose of having these groups better understand this unique federal assistance program.

Project Examples
Success Story #1
Situation: A small food flavorings company was losing sales and jobs to large international rivals.
Solution: TAA funds were used to develop new line of specialty flavorings and implement comprehensive management information system for enhanced customer service.
Success: Sales and employment nearly tripled in 4 years.

Success Story #2
Situation: A baseball cap manufacturer was being undercut by low cost imports in commodity products.
Solution: TAA funds were used to develop "nostalgia" line of vintage baseball caps.
Success: Record year in sales.

Success Story #3
Situation: A backpack manufacturer struggled to survive as one of the few remaining outerwear firms in the area.
Solution: TAA funds were used to implement marketing campaign for its new single-strap backpack.
Success: Doubled account base in 1 year.

Application and Financial Information
TAA is a proven, easy-to-use program managed by business professionals who understand manufacturing. It focuses on providing financial assistance to import-impacted manufacturers. TAA offers:

50/50 cost sharing
Minimal investment and maximum results
Leverage resources
Cash flow advantages

Eligibility, Uses, and Restrictions
Manufacturers in a variety of industries have benefited from the matching funds available through the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAA) program. TAA provides substantial financial assistance to offset the cost of projects that strengthen operations and sharpen competitiveness for manufacturers in many industries.

This customized business assistance is used for a variety of projects, including marketing, information technology, manufacturing, engineering, and quality.

Contact
Great Lakes TAAC
University of Michigan Business School
Business and Industrial Assistance Division
506 East Liberty St., 3rd Floor, Carver Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2210
Toll free: (877) 877-5439
Phone: (734) 998-6213; Fax: (734) 998-6224
E-mail: gltaac@umich.edu
www.gltaac.org
Areas served: IN, MI, OH

MidAmerica TAAC
664 SE Bayberry Lane, Suite 101
Lee's Summit, MO 64063
Toll free: (800) 551-8222
Phone: (816) 246-1555; Fax: (816) 246-9860
E-mail: midamer@taacenter.org
Areas served: AR, KS, MO

MidAtlantic TAAC
1730 Walton Road, Suite 204
Blue Bell, PA 19422
Toll free: (800) 566-7522
Phone: (610) 825-7819; Fax: (610) 825-7708
E-mail: general@mataac.org
Areas served: DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV

Midwest TAAC
Applied Strategies International, Ltd.
150 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2240
Chicago, IL 60606
Toll free: (800) 333-2148
Phone: (312) 368-4600; Fax: (312) 368-9043
E-mail: info@appliedstrategiesintl.com
Areas served: IL, IA, MN, WI

New England TAAC
600 Suffolk Street
Fifth Floor North
Lowell, MA 01854
Phone: (978) 446-9870; Fax: (978) 446-9820
E-mail: info@netaac.org
Areas served: CT, ME, MA, NH, RH, VT

New York State TAAC
117 Hawley Street, Suite 102
Binghamton, NY 13901-3989
Phone: (607) 771-0875; Fax: (607) 724-2404
E-mail: gyouman@binghamton.edu
www.nystaac.org
Area served: NY

Northwest TAAC
1200 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 802
Seattle, WA 98109
Toll Free: (800) 667-8087
Phone: (206) 622-2730; Fax: (206) 622-1105
E-mail: admin@nwtaac.org
Areas served: AK, ID, OR, MT, WA

Rocky Mountain TAAC
5353 Manhattan Circle, Suite 200
Boulder, CO 80303
Toll Free: (800) 677-3791
Phone: (303) 499-8222; Fax: (303) 499-8298
E-mail: edvardh@aol.com
Areas served: CO, NE, NM, ND, SD, UT, WY

Southeastern TAAC
760 Spring Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: (404) 894-3858; Fax: (404) 894-8194
E-mail: setaac@edi.gatech.edu
www.industry.gatech.edu/setaac
Areas served: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN

Southwest TAAC
501 W. Durango
San Antonio, TX 78207
Toll Free: (800) 344-8872
Phone: (210) 458-2490; Fax: (210) 458-2491
E-mail: swtaac@utsa.edu
www.swtaac.org
Areas served: LA, OK, TX

Western TAAC
University of Southern California
3716 South Hope Street, Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Phone: (213) 743-2732; Fax: (213) 746-8722
E-mail: wtaac@usc.edu
www.usc.edu/org/wtaac/
Areas served: AZ, CA, HI, NV

Internet
www.taacenters.org/

Last Updated March 21, 2006