Virginia-based Company Wins SBA/VISA Export Video Contest

Virginia-based Company Wins SBA/VISA Export Video Contest

Five Small Business Exporters Split $39,000 in Awards

Release Date: November 7, 2011
Contact: David J. Hall (202) 205-6697
Release Number: 11-62
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

WASHINGTON – SteelMaster Buildings, a company in Virginia Beach, Va., that designs and builds prefabricated steel buildings for a variety of industries, is the winner of an export video promotion contest co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and VISA. SteelMaster received a $12,000 award, including cash and travel costs to participate in the awards ceremony, and a Department of Commerce Gold Key matching service. You can watch the winning video at www.sba.gov/blog.

“SteelMaster and other participants in this contest are great examples of how small businesses are exporting and driving economic growth and job creation all across the country”, SBA Administrator Karen Mills said. As part of the President’s National Export Initiative, this contest promotes programs and resources for small businesses to help achieve the goal of doubling exports in five years and support two million jobs.”

In addition to SteelMaster, four other small business finalists received awards ranging up to $10,000: World Technology Corp. of New York, NY, $10,000; Air Tractor, Inc. of Olney, Texas, $8,000; VSD, LLC of Virginia Beach, Va., $6,000 and Daelia’s Food Company, Ltd. of Cincinnati, Ohio, $3,000. Awards included cash, an expenses-paid trip to participate in the awards event and $1,000 toward the purchase of a Commerce Department Gold Key matching service and/or various other trade related events.

The Commerce Department Gold Key matching service offers small business exporters customized foreign market and industry briefings; appointments with prospective trade partners in key industry sectors, help with travel and accommodations, interpreter services and much more.

The awards were presented by Dario Gomez, SBA Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade, at the National District Export Council Conference held at Caesar’s Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., on Nov. 5. Janet Zablock, who heads VISA Small Business, shared the stage with Gomez.

The Export Video Contest promoted the advantages of exporting and increase awareness of government assistance available to small business exporters. VISA, which co-sponsored the contest, provided the funding for the cash award to the winners.

The contest was open to small businesses that had completed at least one export transaction. Each participant submitted one educational video of three minutes or less, highlighting how they had ventured into and achieved success with exporting.

Videos were submitted in five categories: manufacturing, consumer products, professional services, technology and agribusiness. A panel of SBA judges selected a winner in each category. The five finalist videos were posted on SBA’s YouTube and made available to the public for voting from Oct. 1 – Oct. 28. Awards were granted based on the number of votes received.

For more information on the Export Video Contest and exporting opportunities for small businesses, visit www.sba.gov/oit.