RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that five companies from the Southside and Southwest regions of Virginia were accepted into the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s new Accessing International Markets (AIM) export development program.
“AIM presents a new and innovative opportunity for Virginia companies to successfully enter the global marketplace,” said Governor Warner. “This program will position new-to-export companies, or companies entering a new market, to confidently face the challenges of international sales and realize the benefits of exporting.”
Companies accepted into the first AIM class include PC Design, Inc. in Altavista; Electronic Development Labs in Danville; American Mine Research in Rocky Gap; Virginia Insulated Products in Saltville; and Hoover Color Corporation in Hiwassee.
Funding for the program was granted through Governor Warner’s “Virginia Works” Initiative. Virginia’s distressed regions have generally experienced fewer of the positive implications of the increasingly global business environment. AIM was developed to help reverse this trend.
Based on a competitive application process, 20 companies will be accepted into the AIM program each year. Participants will benefit from the AIM program’s $5,000 in capital resources, focused AIM Team research, as well as the pro-bono professional services available from AIM Partner resources. These resources will be used to develop and implement a Market Access Plan (MAP) to help companies systematically sell overseas. Markets to be pursued in the inaugural class include countries in South America, Europe and Asia. The AIM “MAP” approach can be replicated in other markets once participants graduate from the one year AIM Program. Companies interested in participating in the program should contact Elizabeth Morgan at EMorgan [at] YesVirginia.org.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, a marketing organization, was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1995 to encourage, stimulate, and support the development and expansion of the economy of the Commonwealth. The Partnership is a state authority, which is governed by a 21-member board of directors appointed by the Governor and the Virginia General Assembly. To accomplish its objectives of promoting economic expansion, the Partnership focuses its efforts on business recruitment, expansion and international trade. VEDP has offices in Virginia, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil, Korea and Japan.