The New Hampshire Office of International Commerce received at State Trade Expansion Program award this week that will further its efforts in helping businesses find global markets for their products and services.
The $267,866 grant will be used to encourage export growth in New Hampshire, which totaled about $4.1 billion in 2016 and supports over 18,000 jobs here. The majority – 87 percent – of the more than 2,700 companies that export are small-to-medium-sized enterprises with less than 500 employees, according to the latest statistics.
“This STEP award continues to highlight New Hampshire’s dedication to small business,” said Commissioner Taylor Caswell, of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs. “Over the years, this funding has provided opportunities for our small businesses to find global markets and we’ve continued to see that the world is very interested in what our companies have to offer. This grant represents the great efforts of our Office of International Commerce and the New Hampshire offices of the SBA and US Commercial Service.”
Sign up for our ExportNH.com newsletter, filled with timely information to help your business go global.
New Hampshire was one of 44 states receiving some of the $18 million set aside for STEP and the amount received represents a 25 percent increase over last year.
“We are happy to continue our partnership with the State of New Hampshire and the Office of International Commerce and commend them for their creative and impactful use of this program to promote greater exporting opportunities for small companies throughout the state,” Greta Johansson, district director of the state’s SBA office.
STEP is designed to increase both the number of small businesses that begin to export and the value of exports for small businesses currently exporting. Expanding the base of small business exporters and making the process as easy as possible is a key component of the SBA’s small business strategy.