13 Maryland Companies Receive Grants to Help Market Products, Services in Global Marketplace

State program provides up to $10,000 in funding, 40 hours of consulting

BALTIMORE, MD (August 11, 2016) – Thirteen small and mid-sized Maryland companies have been awarded grants from the Maryland Department of Commerce to help promote their products and services in the global marketplace. The ExportMD grant program helps businesses finance the costs of marketing internationally, including trade show fees, brochures, and travel expenses. Applications are accepted on a bi-monthly basis and the next application deadline is October 1, 2016. Eligibility requirements can be found on the Commerce website.

The Media Network Corp, a marketing and advertising firm, is among this round’s awardees. The Silver Spring-based company will use the grant to travel to the upcoming 2016 Trade Winds Conference in Latin America, hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“The Maryland Department of Commerce provided us with immediate assistance through the ExportMD program. They made us feel not only welcome, but also more confident about our company’s future success,” said Nhora Barrera, president and CEO of The Media Network Corp. “We had an excellent experience and look forward to our upcoming event in Latin America.”

Established in 1999, the ExportMD program provides matching grants from $5,000 to $10,000 as well as up to 40 hours of marketing consulting from Commerce’s Office of International Investment and Trade. ExportMD is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, which awarded a $518,413 State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant to Maryland Commerce last year to help fund the program.

“The ExportMD program helps to level the playing field for small and mid-sized companies that want to compete in the global marketplace,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Through this program, we have been able to assist hundreds of Maryland businesses market and sell their products and services to new overseas partners.”

“Companies that use the ExportMD program see a marked increase in sales, which in turn helps them to add new jobs and expand their line of products and services,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “This year alone, we have helped dozens of Maryland companies attend high-profile international trade shows that they may have had to chance to access without the funding provided by the ExportMD program.”

Maryland’s Office of International Investment and Trade works to stimulate foreign direct investment in the State, offers export assistance, and coordinates international trade and investment missions and trade show opportunities for Maryland companies. The state has 11 foreign trade offices, including Canada (Montreal), China (Shanghai), Taiwan (Taipei), South Korea (Seoul), Africa (Nigeria), Mexico (Mexico City), Brazil (Sao Paulo), France (Paris), Israel (Tel Aviv), India (Delhi), and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai).

July 2016 ExportMD grant recipients

Anne Arundel County
AllCity Wireless

Baltimore City
AVID Technical Services, LLC
PTC International, Inc.
Tenax Corporation

Charles County
Mesmo Inc.

Howard County
ZanstraSat, LLC

Montgomery County
Encore Solutions, Inc.
Get Real Health
Hi-G-Tek Inc.
OCR Services, Inc.
The Media Network
United Solutions

Talbot County
Trident Aircraft, Inc.

About Maryland Commerce
The Maryland Department of Commerce stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing 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, visit commerce.maryland.gov.
Karen Glenn Hood
Director
Media Relations and Public Affairs
Maryland Department of Commerce
401 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
O 410-767-6318 | C 443-463-8129