Grants Available for Minority and Women-Owned Colorado Businesses Interested in Exporting

The Colorado Minority Business Office announced today that a third round of export grants are available to minority and women-owned small and medium-sized businesses in Colorado. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to companies that are new to exporting or are expanding into new export markets.

Export grants encourage Colorado's small and medium-sized businesses to develop a strategic plan for export markets. Grants may be used for international business development and marketing projects including client development, foreign trade shows and conferences, trade missions, foreign business-to-business matchmaking services, targeted overseas advertising and more.

Businesses interested in applying for a grant must attend the Leading Edge for International Opportunities class, a 48-hour training course that provides training for small businesses on all aspects of international trade. The Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is covering the cost of the course through the World Trade Center, which is available in-person or via recorded webinar. Completion of the course will provide businesses with certification to the NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional, an annual membership to the World Trade Center of Denver, and attendance to the 2016 WTC Annual Meeting. Additionally, the Colorado International Trade Office will provide consulting to grant recipients.

The deadline for grant applications is Feb. 29, 2016 at 4 p.m. Late acceptance will be approved based on individual exceptions. To find out if your business is eligible and to apply, please visit http://www.advancecolorado.com/business-colorado/minority-businesses. For more information, please contact LeRoy Romero at 303-892-3764 or [email protected].

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