RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced the acceptance of two Hampton Roads companies into its two-year Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program. The new companies are Alliance Solutions Group, Inc. of the City of Newport News, and Parker Systems, Inc. of the City of Chesapeake. 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. Participating firms are chosen based on their dedication to growth through export.

Currently, the VALET program has 50 companies as participants. New participants in the program have access to $15,000 in reimbursement funds from the Commonwealth. The program provides participating companies assistance from a team of experienced international service providers to help meet their international goals. Private sector service providers, such as attorneys, web designers, bankers, translators, accountants and freight forwarders, contribute essential expertise to assist companies in executing their export initiatives.

These Virginia companies join the program as part of the 25th class of the VALET program. To participate, each eligible business must meet several quantitative criteria and complete an application process. To date, 209 Virginia companies have been accepted to participate in the VALET program.

“The VALET program puts participating companies on the fast track to international business growth by connecting them with the necessary tools for successful export sales,” said Paul Grossman, VEDP Vice President of International Trade. “Since its inception in 2002, the program has worked with more than 200 businesses to accelerate their international sales growth. Because of the program’s proven success and because jobs are created when Virginia companies sell more into global markets, it is important that we continue to assist Virginia companies through the program. We are happy to welcome these companies to VALET and look forward to working with them over the course of the next two years.”

Alliance Solutions Group, Inc. (ASG) 
ASG was founded in 2005 by Mr. Robert Campbell P.E., President and CEO in response to growing demand for professional support services with expert knowledge and experience in the areas of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) countermeasure analysis and comprehensive, focused solutions; emergency management and response; hazardous materials planning and response; medical planning and response; reducing occupational health and safety risks; environmental compliance and stewardship; and risk-based planning.

Parker Systems, Inc. (PSI) 
PSI has been manufacturing quality oil spill cleanup and containment products for over 43 years. PSI manufactures, markets and distributes environmental cleanup products worldwide, operating from our manufacturing & warehouse facility in Chesapeake, Virginia. Our facility has over 26,000 square feet and 50% of the space is dedicated to manufacturing and the remaining is dedicated to maintaining our large inventory of spill cleanup products. 
PSI is a worldwide leader in the manufacturing and supply of spill environmental response products with the development of new products, designs and improvements and 24-hour year round emergency service.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership
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 24-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, China, Germany, Japan, India and the United Kingdom.

To learn more about the VALET program, visit www.ExportVirginia.org.