State export program launches in Fort Collins

FORT COLLINS — The state Office of Economic Development and International Trade is launching its Advanced Industries Export Accelerator Program this week at the Rocky Mountain Innosphere.

The program stems from legislation designed to grow the state’s advanced industries by helping drive innovation and increase Colorado’s global competitiveness.

“Within the next five years, 95 percent of the world’s consumers and 87 percent of the world’s economic growth will take place outside of the United States,´ said Ken Lund, executive director of OEDIT, in a statement. “This poses an incredible opportunity for Colorado businesses to start exporting their goods and services or to expand their exporting into new international markets.”

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The program is for small- and medium-size businesses in the advanced industries that do not have the resources needed to engage in export promotion. The program offers financial resources, training and consulting services to these businesses for a comprehensive trade promotion program.

Profitable Colorado companies with less than 200 employees that have a product or service ready to export can attend a meeting at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Rocky Mountain Innosphere, 320 E. Vine Drive in Fort Collins. A presentation will be given on the program and consultants funded by the program later will meet with individual companies. Similar events are planned this week in other cities, as well.

The new program has three components:

> An export grant limited to $15,000 with matching funds that can help offset companies’ international business development initiatives.

> A network of consultants located in key international markets to provide valuable market research specific to industry needs and individual business needs.

> An export training program for businesses to learn the fundamentals of exporting and international marketing in advanced industries. Classes will begin in February 2014.