North Carolina Receives Federal Grant to Increase Small Business Exports | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

Program will help N.C. companies enter new markets and expand business

    Raleigh, N.C. - Governor Pat McCrory, N.C. Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. (EDPNC) announced today that North Carolina has received a $746,800 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help North Carolina companies increase international sales.

    The funds will be allocated to enhance the companies' export capacity over the next year. The grant was authorized by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, under the State Trade and Export Promotion program (STEP).

    "When small and medium sized businesses increase their global market share, that growth creates jobs," said Gov. McCrory. "Last year North Carolina companies broke a record, with $31 billion in exports. The STEP program will allow North Carolina companies to find new opportunities in the global market."

    The North Carolina STEP grant will be used to continue and expand an export assistance initiative called NC Passport to Export, managed by the EDPNC. The program leverages the resources of local, state, and federal partners to reach more small and medium size North Carolina companies. NC Passport to Export provides companies access to market research, export education, global branding opportunities as well as access to global trade shows and new foreign markets.

    "Exporting products overseas can seem like an overwhelming challenge," said Secretary Skvarla. "Our international trade team at the EDPNC helps small to mid-size companies navigate this challenge in order to realize the significant growth opportunities in international markets."

    For more information on the NC Passport to Export program, contact Rick Hill, Director of International Trade at the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina at (919) 447-7757.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov