2015-13436. District Export Council Nomination Opportunity

AGENCY:

International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of opportunity for appointment to serve as a District Export Council member.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce is currently seeking nominations of individuals for consideration for appointment by the Secretary of Commerce to serve as members of one of the 60 District Export Councils (DECs) nationwide. DECs are closely affiliated with the U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS), and play a key role in the planning and coordination of export activities in their communities.

DATES:

Nominations for individuals to a DEC must be received by the local USEAC Director by close of business on July 15, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Please contact the Director of your local USEAC for more information on DECs and the nomination process. You may identify your local USEAC by entering your zip code online at http://export.gov/​usoffices/​index.asp. For general program information, contact Michelle Sylvester-Jose, National DEC Liaison, US&FCS, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

District Export Councils support the mission of US&FCS by facilitating the development of an effective local export assistance network, supporting the expansion of export opportunities for local U.S. companies, serving as a communication link between the business community and US&FCS, and assisting in coordinating the activities of trade assistance partners to leverage available resources. Individuals appointed to a DEC become part of a select corps of trade experts dedicated to providing international trade leadership and guidance to the local business community and assistance to the Department of Commerce on export development issues.

Selection Process: Each DEC has a target membership of 30. Approximately half of the positions are open on each DEC for the four-year term from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2019. The local USEAC Director receives nominations for membership, and after ensuring that nominees meet the membership criteria outlined below, makes recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce in consultation with the local DEC Executive Committee. After completion of a vetting process, the Secretary selects nominees for appointment to local DECs. DEC members are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary of Commerce.

Membership Criteria: Appointment is based upon an individual's international trade leadership in the local community, ability to influence the local environment for exporting, interest in export development, and willingness and ability to devote time to DEC activities. Members include exporters, export service providers and others whose profession supports U.S. export promotion efforts. DEC member appointments are made without regard to political affiliation. DEC membership is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States. As representatives of the local exporting community, DEC Members must reside in, or conduct the majority of their work in, the territory that the DEC covers. DEC membership is open to representatives of local and state governments. DEC membership is not open to federal government employees, or individuals representing foreign governments.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1501 et. seq., 15 U.S.C. 4721.

Daniel O'Brien,

Deputy National Field Director.