Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, along with West Virginia Department of Commerce Secretary Keith Burdette, have awarded the International Market Entry Award to 37 companies from across the Mountain State. These awards honor West Virginia companies that successfully exported to a new country. In 2015, West Virginia companies exported more than $5.8 billion in products to more than 140 countries. Five Greenbrier County businesses were recognized. Commendations were awarded to the following Greenbrier County businesses: • Almost Heaven Saunas, LLC, Renick. Countries: Costa Rica and Czech Republic. Products: Indoor and outdoor saunas. • American Foam Technologies, Inc., Maxwelton. Country: Netherlands. Product: Phenolic and urethane foam. • Appalachian Electronic Instruments, Ronceverte. Country: Brazil. Product: Textile quality/ process control equipment. • Ezebreak, LLC, Frankford. Country: Norway. Product: Micro-Blaster kits and accessories. • Falcon Analytical Systems & Technology, LLC, Lewisburg. Countries: Brazil, Ireland and Russia. Product: Gas chromatographs. During the award presentation, Tomblin also announced that West Virginia has been once again selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration to receive funding through the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant initiative. These funds will support the West Virginia Development Office’s export assistance program to help small businesses offset the costs of international business. “Today we celebrate West Virginia companies that have proven our state can compete successfully in the global market. Exports are a vital tool for economic growth,” Gov. Tomblin said. “These businesses are an asset to our state as we continue to grow our business landscape and diversify West Virginia’s economy. I always look forward to this opportunity to recognize their successes.” The Governor’s Commendation for International Market Entry Awards honor companies that have successfully exported to a new country in the previous year. Each company receives a framed piece of currency from each new country to which the business began exporting. The presentation is based on the tradition of displaying the first dollar a business earns. The West Virginia Development Office International Division helps small- to medium-sized West Virginia businesses enter new foreign markets. For more information on export development services offered by the state, visit www.worldtradewv.org.
