CARSON CITY, Nev. – In support of Governor Steve Sisolak’s priority to help small businesses, the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) has awarded $150,000 in federal grants to 30 Nevada small businesses to succeed in the international marketplace.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Nevada’s economy and supporting their expansion into foreign markets will help them grow,” Gov. Sisolak said. “The stronger our small businesses are, the stronger Nevada’s economy will be as a whole.”
GOED approved the applications for the funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) competitive State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). The grant objective is to increase the number of Nevada exporters and increase export sales. A total of $257,914 in federal funding is available through the program for small businesses. Earlier this year, GOED awarded $204,000 to thirty-eight small businesses under the STEP grant program.
“Benefits of exporting for Nevada small businesses are increased competitiveness, increased sales, higher profits, lower costs, reduced vulnerability and extending the product life cycle,” said Michael Brown, GOED executive director. “Exports lead to domestic production. Domestic production requires domestic labor which leads to an increase in employment in our state. There have been more than 50,000 jobs created by exports in Nevada last year.”
The following small businesses received SBA grants during this latest round of funding:
• 22nd Century Enterprises
• Additive Technologies
• Alpier, Cerno
• Bioscience
• Dynamic Sports Group
• Earthly Botanicals
• Eric Anderson
• Equipment Integration Solutions
• Evo Avia
• G & L Innovation
• HR Global Consulting
• Innosance
• Ioterra
• jBells
• Jojo’s Jerky
• Mario Basner Photography
• Mercantile Logistics & International Trade
• Monarch Media, NeOnBrand
• Nevada Nanotech Systems
• Nevada Southern Realty
• Nuclear Safety and Technology Services
• Omega Pacific Trading
• OneSource Wireless Solutions
• QuantumMark
• Rank Quantum
• Rockin Bettie
• Superior Post Tension
• Tribal Ink
• Work in Progress.
“Exporting brings plenty of benefits and opportunities to Nevada small businesses, including access to more consumers and businesses,” Brown said. “In fact, exports accounts for close to 6 percent of Nevada’s Gross Domestic Product.”
The SBA has adapted their regulations to encourage the use of virtual tools to prevent the spread of COVID-19, while also allowing businesses to resume international trade initiatives. This includes virtual service offerings, virtual trade shows, export research tools, online export trainings, market intelligence, virtual matchmaking services, eCommerce innovation lab, design of marketing media, search engine optimization, translation, localization and Rural America Intelligence Service for Exporters.
Since the introduction of the STEP program in 2011, nearly $1.6 million has been awarded to Nevada to execute STEP activities supporting small businesses in their export promotion. The current project has been extremely successful, with Nevada small businesses generating $4.6 million in export sales, significantly exceeding projected return on investment.
To learn more about the STEP grant, please click here:
https://goed.nv.gov/programs-incentives/international-trade/step-grant/
Funded in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration
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About the Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Created during the 2011 session of the Nevada Legislature, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development is the result of a collaborative effort between the Nevada Legislature and the Governor’s Office to restructure economic development in the state. GOED’s role is to promote a robust, diversified and prosperous economy in Nevada, to stimulate business expansion and retention, encourage entrepreneurial enterprise, attract new businesses and facilitate community development. More information on the Governor’s Office of Economic Development can be viewed at goed.nv.gov.