RICHMOND - In just two years, eight companies that participated in the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s (VEDP) two-year Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program increased annual international sales by 30 percent. Launched in January 2002, the program assists exporters in the Commonwealth that have firmly established domestic operations and are committed to international exporting as an expansion strategy. The graduating class began the program with a combined $22,450,921 in annual international sales. By completion of the program their collective sales had grown to $29,181,331, a 30 percent increase. Kimberly Weir, Assistant Director of International Trade and VALET Program Manager at VEDP, spoke to the new and graduating classes at the welcome event in Richmond today. The following eight companies successfully completed the program and graduated today:
- American Hofmann Corporation, Precision balancing systems & equipment, Lynchburg
- Gala Industries, Inc., Plastic pellet production technology, Eagle Rock
- Language Analysis Systems, Inc., Advance name recognition software, Herndon
- Morphix Technologies (formerly K&M Environmental, Inc.), Gas detection sensors, Virginia Beach
- Midwesco Filter Resources, Inc., Air pollution control products & services, Winchester
- PEMCO Corporation, Electric power systems for the mining industry, Bluefield
- Power Systems & Controls, Inc., Power quality solutions for data centers and industrial centers, Richmond
- Remarque Manufacturing Corp., Aircraft components, Hampton
“Go for it! It is worth the time and effort—do it as quickly as you can and use it as much as you can,” said Steve Cahoon, Gala Industries. “Gala’s past experiences with government programs have not been all that positive, and our experience with VALET is much better than anything else we’ve ever been offered by the state—we were so impressed by all of the efforts of the VEDP to help us.”
Representing a variety of industries throughout the Commonwealth, the following companies were accepted into the VALET Class of July 2006:
- Base-X, Inc., Tents, quick erect shelters for military and industrial applications, Rockbridge
- Bihrle Applied Research, Inc., Flight simulation software, Hampton
- F.R. Drake Company, Metal food processing and high speed loading equipment, Waynesboro
- i411, Inc., Text search software; large scale database search and categorization capabilities, Herndon
- MapTech, Inc., Hydrological and water quality monitoring, Blacksburg
- MicroAire Surgical Instruments, LLC, Produces orthopedic surgical power tools and implants, Charlottesville
- Old World Prints, Art prints and pictures, Richmond
- UXB International, Inc., Provider of turnkey services—assessments, designs, investigations, removal actions, and demilitarization for the mitigation of hazards, Blacksburg
“As we welcome our 10th class of VALET companies into the program, we challenge these new companies to take full advantage of the structure and support of the program,” said Paul Grossman, VEDP Director of International Trade. “It really works for those who engage actively in our proven formula for success.”
To participate, each eligible business must meet several quantitative criteria and complete an application process. Participating firms are chosen based on their dedication to growth through export. Currently, 78 Virginia companies have been accepted to participate in the VALET program.
The VALET program incorporates services from VALET Program Partners, a team of experienced international service providers who assist the VALET companies with their international goals. Service providers such as attorneys, web designers, bankers, translators and freight-forwarders contribute essential skills for expansion into international markets. The following 22 companies are VALET Program Partners:
- ActiveMedia, Web marketing and promotions, Great Falls
- Allegheny Brokerage Company, Export control compliance/customs brokerage/forwarding, Dublin
- BB&T, Financial services, Richmond
- Bank of America, Financial services, Richmond
- Britt Marketing & Public Relations*, Marketing and public relations, Lynchburg
- China Channel Limited, Approaches to seeking business in China, Petersburg
- CV International, Ocean/air freight forwarder/transportation provider, Norfolk
- ExactLingua, L.L.C., Multi-language translation and interpretation services, Williamsburg
- FOCUS Enterprises, Inc., Corporate development, finance and growth consulting, Washington, DC
- The Global Law Group, Legal services, Richmond
- The Language Group, Translation/interpretation, Virginia Beach
- Lasa Monroig & Veve, Legal services, Washington D.C.
- LeClair Ryan, Legal services, Richmond
- Marsh USA, Inc., Insurance, Richmond
- Piascik & Associates, Certified Public Accountants, Glen Allen
- SunTrust Bank, Financial services, Richmond
- Technology International, Inc., Provider of global regulatory consulting services to help companies register their products with regulatory agencies in overseas markets, Richmond
- TNB Language Services, Language translation, interpretations, situation and cultural training, Roanoke
- Trade Show Training, Inc., Trade show planning, Richmond
- UTi, United States, Freight forwarding/customs/International transportation/logistics/warehouse and supply chain management, Sterling
- Virtual Strategies, Inc., Corporate development consulting, Washington, D.C.
- Williams Mullen, Legal services, Richmond
* New program partner, July 2006
The VALET program was recognized as a national model in November 2004 by the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP) for VALET’s innovation in bringing the public and private sectors together to achieve a benefit for the public. The VALET program was the only winner of the 2004 NCPPP Public-Private Partnership Award in the Innovation category.
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 within the Commonwealth, 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.
To learn more about the VALET program, visit www.ExportVirginia.org.