Louisiana Company able to Hire Two New Employees with the Help of MAP Funding

In 2021, Big Easy Blends, L.L.C. participated in the Branded Program through the Southern United States Trade Association’s Market Access Program. The New Orleans, Louisiana-based company applied for MAP funding to receive 50% reimbursement to promote a variety of their snow cones, smoothies and slush drinks with flavors, such as blue raspberry, peach mango and cherry frost. The company elected to promote these products through the use of in-store displays in Canada. As a result, the company was able to connect with three new buyers and made sales of $590,000 with another $650,000 in projected sales. Due to increase in sales, the company was also able to hire two new employees. “Exporting presents financial risk to small businesses like ours and SUSTA made exporting financially feasible. The partnership with SUSTA has been essential to Big Easy Blends’ international expansion over the last few years and we are excited about the continued partnership. SUSTA and Big Easy Blends are committed to expanding Louisiana owned products internationally,” says Antonio LaMartina, Co-Founder of Big Easy Blends.