DBED SECRETARY MURRAY ANNOUNCES EXPORTMD GRANTS AWARDED TO 15 MARYLAND COMPANIES

By Sandy Dubay | Sep 10, 2014
BALTIMORE, MD (September 10, 2014) – Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) Secretary Dominick Murray announced today that 15 small and mid-sized Maryland companies have been awarded ExportMD grants to help promote their products and services in the global marketplace. The Export MD grant program is administered by DBED and helps businesses finance the costs of marketing internationally, including trade show fees, brochures and travel expenses. Since 2011, more than 115 ExportMD grants have been awarded. Applications are accepted on a bi-monthly basis and the next application deadline is October, 1 2014. Eligibility requirements can be found on DBED’s website at www.choosemaryland.org.

“In today’s competitive global economy – with 95 percent of the world’s consumers residing outside of the United States – businesses of all sizes need to think about innovative ways to tap into new opportunities for growth,” said Secretary Murray. “Making the move to expand internationally can be that much easier with the funding and expert assistance ExportMD Program offers.”

Maryland’s exports reached $11.8 billion in 2013, a new record for the state and a nine percent increase since 2011. The State’s increase helped contribute to a U.S. export total of more than $2.3 trillion, an all-time record for the country. U.S. exports support more than 10 million jobs.

During fiscal year 2013, 36 Maryland companies reported more than $73 million in export sales as a result of assistance from DBED’s Office of International Trade and Investment.

Electro Media Design, an audiovisual consulting and design company, is taking advantage of the ExportMD program by participating in an upcoming Maryland trade mission. The company will join fellow Montgomery County awardee Sans Technologies on a trip to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar this month. “We are pleased to be part of the upcoming trade mission as it will help us extend the consulting services we provide in that region to additional clients,” said Jeff Loether, CEO of Electro Media. “Since entering the Middle East and Africa market, we’ve been able to grow our Maryland staff and anticipate adding additional project managers.”

Recently ranked 123rd on the Inc. 500 list of “Fastest Growing Private Companies in America,” Baltimore County’s Securityhunter is using its ExportMD grant to participate in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s safety and security trade mission to Panama and Colombia later this month. “We are so glad that Securityhunter has the support of the State of Maryland as we look to leverage our expertise in federal security into overseas markets,” said Michael S. Rogers, CEO of Securityhunter.

Established in 1999, the Export MD program provides matching grants that are capped at $5,000 as well as up to 40 hours of marketing consulting from DBED’s Office of International Trade and Investment. To increase the number of Maryland companies that export, Governor Martin O’Malley launched the Maryland Export Initiative in 2010. Created to complement the National Export Initiative, which President Barack Obama announced to increase the nation’s exports and create two million jobs in five years, Maryland’s export initiative focuses on increasing export assistance to small businesses, creating jobs and leveraging the resources of existing federal and nonprofit partners.

September 2014 Export MD grant recipients

Anne Arundel County
Allied International Corporation

Baltimore City
Clear Guide Medical
Intelect Corporation, Inc.

Baltimore County
Amethyst Technologies, LLC
Securityhunter, Inc.

Frederick County
BioElectronics Corporation

Montgomery County
20/20 Gene Systems, Inc.
Agrifood Consulting International, Inc.
Electro Media Design, Ltd.
The Emmes Corporation
Get Real Health
MINI, LLC
Sans Technologies, Inc.

Prince George’s County
Medserv International, Inc.

St. Mary’s County
Sailing Specialties, Inc.

About DBED:
The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing workforce training and financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department promotes the State’s many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment, trade and tourism. Because they are major economic generators, the Department also supports the Arts, film production, sports and other special events. For more information, visitwww.choosemaryland.org.

Karen Glenn Hood, Director, Media Relations and Public Affairs
Division of Marketing and Communications
Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development
World Trade Center Baltimore | 401 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
O 410.767.6318 | BB 443-463-8129 | E kglennhood@choosemaryland.org

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