Delaware Receives Federal Grant To Increase Local Business Exports

For Immediate Release: November 14, 2011

The State of Delaware’s International Trade and Development Group (ITG) has received a $247,000 grant from the US Small Business Administration (SBA) to increase the number of small businesses in the First State that export their products and to increase the value of exports for those small businesses already exporting. The project’s key activities in Delaware will assist small firms in entering specific markets, especially China and Brazil.

At a press conference today in Wilmington, Lt. Governor Matthew Denn — along with Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock and SBA District Director, Jayne Armstrong — announced the grant which will support small business participation in foreign trade missions and trade show exhibitions and assist them with marketing to an international audience.

"Expanding opportunities for small business owners in Delaware to export their products internationally is great not only for those businesses, but for Delaware, financially and for building bridges," said Lt. Governor Denn.

The first step of the initiative will kick off this Friday at Delaware Technical & Community College in Stanton. A free informational session will provide small business owners, executives, and managers with an opportunity to learn more about how STEP can help them expand their business through export.
“This grant will open doors to new markets for our small businesses,” said Secretary Bullock, who oversees the State’s International Trade and Development Group (ITG). “Our trade experts in the ITG, along with the SBA and its partners, have years of experience and extensive knowledge to offer our small businesses to help them enter those new markets successfully.”
The State Trade and Export Promotion Grant (STEP) Pilot Grant – a $90 million three-year funding initiative – aligns with President Obama’s National Export Initiative which calls for doubling U.S. exports in five years and, in so doing, supporting two million jobs.

“The STEP grants are a good example of how the SBA is working with state and local governments to support regional economic development,” said Jayne Armstrong, Delaware District Director for the US Small Business Administration.

ITG’s main partners in the initiative are the US Small Business Administration, Delaware District Office; World Trade Center Delaware; Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprise (OWMBE); Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP); the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO); and the Delaware Small Business Development Center Network.

For more information, please visit http://itc.sos.delaware.gov. Interested businesses can register for Friday’s free export education seminar by visiting http://stepforum.eventbrite.com.