MARYLAND COMMERCE AWARDS EXPORTMD GRANTS TO 36 LOCAL BUSINESSES

State program helps companies promote goods, services across the globe

BALTIMORE, MD (September 14, 2021) – The Maryland Department of Commerce has awarded 36 small and mid-sized Maryland companies ExportMD grants to help promote their products and services in the global marketplace. The grants, awarded during the spring and summer months, help businesses finance the costs of marketing internationally, including trade show fees and travel expenses.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, the department expanded the program to allow grants to cover participation in virtual conferences, as well as assist businesses with growing their customer base through compliance testing, shipping sample products, website translation into foreign languages, and more. Applications for the program are accepted on a monthly basis and the next application deadline is October 1, 2021. Eligibility requirements can be found on the Commerce website.

“These past two years may have impacted international travel, but it has not changed our commitment to helping Maryland companies reach their full potential at home and abroad,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “By expanding the ExportMD program’s scope of eligible services, we can ensure that our companies looking to enter the global market have a reliable resource to help them succeed.”

As the state prepares to resume in-person attendance at international trade shows this fall, it continues reviewing results from this year’s virtual events. Over the past 12 months, Maryland Commerce has supported 59 companies through participation in virtual trade shows and business matchmaking services. To learn more about international opportunities, sign up for our mailing list here. For questions about upcoming events, contact jessica.reynolds@maryland.gov.

“While coronavirus case numbers continued to fluctuate this year, our department reworked its plans to adapt to travel restrictions and virtual events, to continue serving businesses throughout the state,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “I’m proud to say that so far, even with these unexpected changes, the state has assisted nearly five dozen companies in their global expansion efforts.”

Established in 1999, the ExportMD program provides matching grants up to $5,000 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 has awarded multiple State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grants to Maryland Commerce to help fund the 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 18 foreign trade offices, including Africa (Durban), ASEAN countries (Singapore), Australia (Sydney), Brazil (Sao Paulo), Canada (Montreal), Chile (Santiago), Mainland China (Shanghai), Colombia (Bogota), India (Delhi), Israel (Tel Aviv), Japan (Tokyo), Mexico (Mexico City), Peru (Lima), Taiwan (Taipei), United Arab Emirates (Dubai), and the United Kingdom (Manchester). The trade offices also include Germany (Heidelberg) and France (Paris), which assist numerous countries throughout Northern and Southern Europe.

March – July 2021 ExportMD grant recipients

Baltimore City

ClearMask, LLC

Coap Tech Inc.

Fyodor Biotechnologies

Prolix Music LLC

Sonavi Labs

Baltimore County

ABIS Solutions LLC

Amani Enterprises Inc.

BizSolutions 360 Inc.

Black Fox LLC

Legends of Learning Inc.

Mid-Atlantic Auto Exporters, Inc.

Carroll County

LEGICO

Harford County

Beacon Environmental Services Inc.

OMNIPOYNT LLC

Howard County

Ardent Security LLC

Pocket Planner Inc.

Frederick County

American Association for Laboratory Accreditation

Celestial Fire Glass, Inc.

Orases Consulting Corp.

Montgomery County

121 USA LLC

Biotech Diagnostics LLC

ELA Enrichment

Electro-Media Design Ltd.

Fina Biosolutions LLC

Hyper Local Solutions LLC

MBA Growth Partners

The Monroe Companies

Rising Sun Advisors, LLC

Salmon Medical Innovations

Top Down Systems Corp.

Prince George’s County

77 Winner LLC

Foodservice Contracting LLC

Haystack Solutions

Skin Deep Beauty LLC

UniverSahel Consulting LLC

Talbot County

The Whalen Co.

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.