2021-11560. 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 61 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), which is part of the Global Markets unit within the International Trade Administration, 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 5:00 p.m. local time on July 31, 2021.

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 Laura Barmby, 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 professionals dedicated to providing international trade leadership and guidance to the local business community and assistance to the Department of Commerce on export development issues. DEC members are volunteers. DEC members are not special government employees. DEC members receive no compensation for their participation in DEC activities or reimbursement for travel and other personal expenses.

Nomination Process: Each DEC has a maximum membership of 35. Approximately half of the positions are open on each DEC for the four-year term that begins on January 1, 2022 and runs through December 31, 2025. All potential nominees must complete an online nomination form and consent to sharing of the information on that form with the DEC Executive Committee for its consideration, and consent, if appointed, to sharing of their contact information with other DEC members and relevant government agencies and private sector organizations with a focus on trade. Interested individuals are highly encouraged to reach out to the local USEAC Director to learn more about the DECs and to begin the application process as soon as possible. While interested individuals can submit applications prior to July 1, 2021, USEAC Directors will formally accept nominations from July 1 until July 31, 2021.

Eligibility and Appointment Criteria: Appointment is based upon an individual's international trade leadership in the local community, ability to influence the local environment for exporting, knowledge of day-to-day international operations, interest in export development, and willingness and ability to devote time to DEC activities. Members must be employed as exporters or export service providers or in a profession which supports U.S. export promotion efforts. 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 not open to federal government employees. Individuals representing foreign governments, including individuals registered with the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, must disclose such representation and may be disqualified if the Department determines that such representation is likely to impact the ability to carry out the duties of a DEC member or raise an appearance issue for the Department.

Selection Process: Nominations of individuals who have applied for DEC membership will be forwarded to the local USEAC Director for the respective DEC for that Director's consideration. The local USEAC Director ensures that all nominees meet the membership criteria. The local USEAC Director then, in consultation with the local DEC Executive Committee, evaluates all nominations to determine their interest, commitment, and qualifications. In reviewing nominations, the local USEAC Director strives to ensure a balance among exporters from a manufacturing or service industry and export service providers. A fair representation should be considered from companies and organizations that support exporters, representatives of local and state government, and trade organizations and associations. Membership should reflect the diversity of the local business community, encompass a broad range of businesses and industry sectors, and be distributed geographically across the DEC service area.

For current DEC members seeking reappointment, the local USEAC Director, in consultation with the DEC Executive Committee, also carefully considers the nominee's activity level during the previous term and demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and effectively with other DEC members and US&FCS staff. As appointees of the Secretary of Commerce in high-profile positions, though volunteers, DEC Members are expected to actively participate in the DEC and support the work of local US&FCS offices. Those that do not support the work of the office or do not actively participate in DEC activities will not be considered for re-nomination.

The local USEAC Director, in consultation with the local DEC Executive Committee, determines which nominees to forward to the US&FCS Office of U.S. Field for further consideration for recommendation to the Secretary of Commerce. A candidate's background and character are pertinent to determining suitability and eligibility for DEC membership. Since DEC appointments are made by the Secretary, the Department must make a suitability determination for all DEC nominees. 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.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512 and 4721.

Laura Barmby,

District Export Council Program Manager.