The Maryland Department of Commerce has awarded 32 small and mid-sized Maryland companies with ExportMD grants to help promote their products and services in the global marketplace. The grants, awarded from January through July, help businesses finance the costs of marketing internationally, including trade show fees and travel expenses.
Over the last six months, Commerce’s Office of International Investment and Trade has led several local businesses to overseas trade shows, including stops in Mexico, the U.K., Chile, and Dubai. Many participating companies utilized ExportMD funding to secure spots within the department’s delegations, giving them access to display space and meeting areas within the exhibition booth, as well as matchmaking assistance.
“Our ExportMD grant program continues to be an important tool for Maryland businesses looking to expand their reach across the globe,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “Not only can the program be utilized to offset international travel costs, but it can also be used for companies to ship out sample products, translate websites into foreign languages, and more. These are just a few ways our local businesses can tackle new markets and make a lasting impression with customers around the world.”
Applications for the ExportMD program are accepted on a monthly basis and the next application deadline is October 1, 2022. Eligibility requirements can be found on the Commerce website. 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.
January – July 2022 ExportMD grant recipients
Anne Arundel County
ITSoftNet
John S. Connor, Inc.
Patriot Group LLC
Penacity, LLC
SixGen Inc.
Baltimore City
ADINKRA Solutions Group LLC
Afrothreads LLC
Alertus Technologies
Galerie Myrtis LLC
Sicura, Inc.
Strum Contracting Co, Inc.
The Chainblock Company LLC
Baltimore County
Ardent Security
Metalcraft, Inc.
Securityhunter, Inc.
Howard County
Agrobotanicals LLC (dba Shea Radiance)
Equinox Innovative Systems
Montgomery County
Chaney Communications LLC
International Waste Industries Corp.
Liatris, Inc.
Maven Engineering Corporation
MBA Growth Partners
Mistral Security Inc.
Ovamba Solutions, Inc.
Perform-Link, LLC
System 1, Inc.
Zehirut International
Prince George’s County
Black & Global Business Network
Cybrary, Inc.
Spectacular Seafood LLC
Spin Global
The Africa Memory Game
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.
