Delaware small businesses who are seeking support in selling around the world may now apply for a Compass Grant from Export Delaware. The Compass Grant helps Delaware small businesses navigate international business development through grant funding to support marketing and sales activities around the world.

Grant funds can be used to reimburse Delaware businesses for up to 50 percent of all pre-approved, eligible, international business travel and marketing expenses. This includes international business travel, website translation, localization, and global optimization, design of international marketing material, export education and training, CE Mark and compliance testing, translation of product information/user manuals, and exhibiting at international trade shows, and more.

“We are pleased to offer this brand-new grant to the Delaware business community,” said Delaware Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “Businesses that sell internationally are more profitable, grow faster, and more resilient to economic fluctuations. They also create more local jobs benefiting our economy. We trust that this will be a worthwhile investment to take businesses to the next level.”

Export Delaware has a track record of helping small businesses grow and create jobs. By supporting Delaware small businesses to expand their exports, the agency has helped create 89 jobs and retain 234.5 jobs in Delaware since its inception. This is due to the agency’s practical business approach which provides tangible sales to the Delaware small business community.

The Compass Grant expands upon the agency’s efforts to help Delaware small businesses grow their international sales.

“This grant offers greater flexibility than previous programs,” said Beth Pomper, Director of International Business Development for Export Delaware. “We’re investing more time and funds into helping Delaware companies than ever before.”

Delaware small businesses who have been in business longer than one year, and have plans (or desire) to sell internationally are encouraged to learn more and apply online here. Contact the Export Delaware team with any questions at 302-577-8464 or via email at export@delaware.gov.

About Export Delaware: 

Export Delaware is the State’s official export resource for Delaware’s small and medium-sized businesses. An initiative of the Delaware Department of State, Export Delaware assists Delaware companies that seek to export their products and services. Experienced staff provides on-site guidance to businesses that are looking to explore export opportunities or to expand their current export activities to new markets.

The Compass Grant is a brand new grant program from the Delaware Department of State that helps Delaware small businesses navigate selling their products or services around the world.

Compass Grant Informational Webinar

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 10:00 AM

Are you seeking financial support to help your organization grow your sales overseas? Join us for the Compass Grant Informational Webinar, which will provide you with essential insights into the brand-new Compass Grant, guiding you through the application process and eligibility criteria. The Export Delaware team will answer your questions and help you navigate the grant with confidence. Don’t miss the opportunity to chart your course toward obtaining the funding you need to expand around the globe!

Register Here

About the Compass Grant

Delaware small businesses may apply for a Compass Grant to support international travel or business development activities. This grant will have greater flexibility than previous programs. Compass grant funds can be used to reimburse up to 50 percent of all pre-approved, eligible, international marketing expenses, up to a maximum of $10,000 per fiscal year, per company.

This grant funding may be used to support international marketing efforts such as:

• Booth fees for exhibiting at a tradeshow overseas
• Travel expenses (hotel and airfare) for visiting potential clients or distributors in another country
• Fees to work with the US Commercial Service on International Partner Search
• Fees associated with obtaining your CE Mark
• Expenses for translating your product marketing material into another language
• Expenses for optimizing and localizing your website for a foreign market
• And much more ….

Who Should Attend

This webinar is appropriate for:

• Any manufacturer or professional services provider interested in learning more about increasing their sales to other countries.
• Current exporters looking for additional funding to increase their sales.

If you’re not sure if you qualify, join us on the webinar to find out! You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions specific to your company.

Register Here

About our Speaker

Beth Pomper
Director, International Business Development
Export Delaware

Beth Pomper is an international marketing and sales professional with 30 years of progressive leadership experience in support of global business activities. She is responsible for the Strategic Export Plan for the State of Delaware and has worked to implement it since 2014. Beth has established Delaware’s global representative network, with 12 foreign offices servicing 50 countries. She has assisted nearly 100 Delaware companies launch and expand their export sales, generating over $375 million in business and creating nearly 100 jobs in the state.

About Export Delaware

Export Delaware is an initiative of the Delaware Department of State. We are the State’s official export resource for Delaware’s small and medium-sized businesses. We are consistently ranked among the top state export programs nationally in terms of results for our companies. If you are a new exporter or want to explore new markets, we can help you get started.

Export Delaware assists Delaware companies that seek to export their products and services. Our experienced staff provides on-site guidance to businesses that are looking to explore export opportunities or to expand their current export activities to new markets.

Some of the most successful exporters are innovative small- and medium-sized businesses (which account for 98 percent of U.S. exporters). Businesses that export have faster-growing sales, create more jobs and are less likely to go out of business than non-exporting establishments.

Register Here

Derco USA is a Newark, Delaware-based fabricator of custom conveyor belting for various industries, including bakery, agriculture, automotive, and more. The story of how this business grew to national recognition in the industry starts with its owner, Paul O’Connor, and his high personal standard of service.

O’Connor served two years in the Army and nine years in the National Guard. When he came out of the service, he launched his first business – a roofing and sheet metal company. Unfortunately, a knee injury forced him to re-evaluate his career. He used the GI Bill and enrolled in college to study mechanical engineering. Around the same time, his father-in-law encouraged him to “get into the belting business.” O’Connor admits, “I didn’t think it was very exciting,” but he decided to take his advice. Within seven years, he had risen through the ranks to VP of the company!

His success is due in part to the high level of service he provides. “I deal with so many customers on a first-name basis,” he says. Going the extra mile makes a difference. “Keep in contact. Respond quickly and give personal attention.”

After building several companies with European partners, he worked at a Dutch-owned company’s US plant. When the 2008 recession hit, the parent company was eager to sell the US operations. They offered it to O’Connor and his two sons, who were also employees at the time. To help fund the acquisition, O’Connor turned to the 7(a) Small Business Loan offered by the SBA to Veterans. “When the SBA looked into the business, they recognized that I’d been in the industry since 1993,” says O’Connor. He had a strong business case based on his industry experience and network of customers.

O’Connor and his sons now own the company and run it as a family business. “This time, it’s our money, and we are responsible for all the bills and making a profit.” He recommends any aspiring business owners be properly capitalized or, “You’ll be out of money.”

International Element

After running his family business for over 13 years and a career that spans 30 years, O’Connor has climbed the ranks of the belting industry. He travels internationally to connect with distributors and partners and exhibits at trade shows. He has grown his network to include over 300 distributors in the US, Africa, and South America.

In March 2023, they participated in Export Delaware’s business trip to Mexico. As a result, they secured three new distributors. O’Connor was thrilled with the level of support on the business trip provided by Export Delaware. Export Delaware business trips are turn-key, identifying and securing business appointments according to each company’s needs, providing transportation to daily meetings, and simultaneous technical interpreters for every meeting. O’Connor went on to comment, “Our translator really understood our business. By the end of the trip, she could explain our products herself!”

O’Connor says these efforts have helped give Derco USA worldwide recognition. “Even our competitors buy from us because we have the expertise they need.”

In the next five years, O’Connor anticipates partnering with more OEMs to continue fabricating belts that fit their unique technical requirements. The industry is changing, and customer service is the differentiator. O’Connor mentioned how, in the past, equipment manufacturers would ask them to create a belt for their machine. “Now they are coming to us first to design the equipment around the belt.”

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About Export Delaware

Export Delaware is an initiative of the Delaware Department of State. We are the State’s official export resource for Delaware’s small and medium-sized businesses. We are consistently ranked among the top state export programs nationally in terms of results for our companies. If you are a new exporter or want to explore new markets, we can help you get started.

Export Delaware assists Delaware companies that seek to export their products and services. Our experienced staff provides on-site guidance to businesses that are looking to explore export opportunities or to expand their current export activities to new markets.

Some of the most successful exporters are innovative small- and medium-sized businesses (which account for 98 percent of U.S. exporters). Businesses that export have faster-growing sales, create more jobs and are less likely to go out of business than non-exporting establishments.

Are you looking to sell to the Caribbean? Join Export Delaware for a webinar on November 9, 2023, at 10 AM to learn how to launch, grow, and accelerate your brand in the Caribbean.

REGISTER HERE

On this interactive webinar, Richard Zurba will share practical business applications and opportunities on how to do business in the Caribbean. In this session, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn of opportunities for your product or service.

The Northeast States are organizing a business trip to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic in February 2024. Attend this webinar to learn if your business will be a good fit to participate on the trip.

This workshop is ideal for US businesses eager to expand into the Caribbean or grow their business through exporting.

Why The Caribbean?
The US has a strong commercial and cultural affinity with many of the Caribbean nations, especially Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. The stable democracy and large English-speaking market reduce barriers for US small businesses to enter and succeed long-term.

Leading sectors of growth include manufacturing, chemicals, tourism, agriculture, financial services, ITC, renewable energy, and safety and security equipment.

About Our Speaker:
Richard is the founder and director Zurcom International, a business consultancy organization with staff and offices across the Caribbean and Africa. Zurcom International will be working with the northeast states to implement business appointments specific to your company in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. With over twenty years of experience with export promotion, Richard and his team have managed and supervised over 100 international business trips.

About the Business Trip:
Meeting face-to-face with prospective customers is critical to establishing new business relationships around the world. Let us help you make the right contacts overseas and achieve new international sales!

We are organizing a business trip to Jamacia and the Dominican Republic to meet new customers and potential partners. Participate in business appointments in either Jamaica, the DR, or both markets. The trip will take place February 5-9, 2024. This opportunity is open to small businesses in the northeast states (ME, NH, VT, NY, MA, RI, CT, NJ, PA, DE).

REGISTER HERE

About Export Delaware

Export Delaware is an initiative of the Delaware Department of State. We are the State’s official export resource for Delaware’s small and medium-sized businesses. We are consistently ranked among the top state export programs nationally in terms of results for our companies. If you are a new exporter or want to explore new markets, we can help you get started.

Export Delaware assists Delaware companies that seek to export their products and services. Our experienced staff provides on-site guidance to businesses that are looking to explore export opportunities or to expand their current export activities to new markets.

Some of the most successful exporters are innovative small- and medium-sized businesses (which account for 98 percent of U.S. exporters). Businesses that export have faster-growing sales, create more jobs and are less likely to go out of business than non-exporting establishments.

Contact

Emma Pautler
Export Delaware
Delaware Department of State
Website: https://export.delaware.gov/
Email: export@delaware.gov

Five Delaware minority and/or veteran-owned small businesses completed Export Delaware’s new signature training program, “Selling to the World.” Export Delaware partnered with the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia to develop this groundbreaking initiative. Participants learned how to develop an export strategy, find qualified buyers, navigate logistics and shipping, learn about export finance, international patents, and trademarks, and more.

Selling to the World was designed to provide export education, training, and mentorship from experts in the fields of exporting and global supplier diversity. The program helps participating minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBEs) compete in the global marketplace by teaching them how to leverage their diverse certification to access global supply chains of the multinationals.

“When minority-owned businesses are empowered to expand their sales internationally through exports, they become more competitive and resilient,” said Beth Pomper, Director of International Business, Export Delaware. “These businesses will access growth opportunities that are unavailable domestically, providing them with another opportunity to diversify their customer base and increase their sales.

The curriculum was designed by the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) in partnership with Export Delaware. The program provides one-on-one mentorship from Fortune 500 Global Supplier Diversity Directors and all classes included presentations by experts in the field.

As a result of this new Global Supplier Diversity Initiative, minority- and women-owned businesses in Delaware and the Greater Philadelphia region will be equipped to grow and flourish in the coming decades.

“These classes have been extremely informative and very helpful. Sometimes you just don’t know what you don’t know.” said Eric O’Connor, Vice President of Sales, O’Connor Belting/Derco USA (Newark, Delaware).

The program was funded by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Administration (SBA) via the State Trade Export Program (STEP) Grant, and private sector partners.

Export Delaware is the State’s official export resource for Delaware’s small and medium-sized businesses. An initiative of the Delaware Department of State, Export Delaware assists Delaware companies that seek to export their products and services. Experienced staff provides on-site guidance to businesses that are looking to explore export opportunities or to expand their current export activities to new markets.