Two-year export program provides resources to support international business expansion 

RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced the acceptance of an Augusta County company, DASCOM Americas SBI LLC, into its two-year Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program. The VALET program assists companies in the Commonwealth that are committed to international exporting as a growth strategy. To participate, each business must meet both quantitative and qualitative selection criteria. Participating firms are chosen based on their dedication to growing export sales. To date, 335 Virginia companies have been accepted to participate in the VALET program.

“The VALET program, administered by VEDP’s dedicated International Trade team, is one of our most well-regarded tools for bolstering trade activity in the Commonwealth,” said VEDP President and CEO Stephen Moret. “This world-class program has helped nearly 340 homegrown companies to increase their export sales, contributing economic growth and ensuring that Virginia remains competitive in the global marketplace.”

“The VALET program puts participating companies on the fast track to international business growth by connecting them with the necessary tools for successful international sales,” said Paul Grossman, Vice President of International Trade. “We are happy to welcome DASCOM Americas SBI LLC into the VALET Program and look forward to working with them over the course of the next two years.”

Currently, the VALET program has 45 companies as participants. The program provides participating companies with export planning services and assistance from a team of experienced international service providers to help meet the companies’ international business goals. These private sector service providers contribute essential expertise to assist companies in executing export plans and include attorneys, web designers, bankers, translators, accountants, and freight forwarders.

According to Ron Acorn, President of DASCOM Americas: “We certainly view it as a honor to be chosen to take part in the VALET program. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership has already been an important catalyst in helping us achieve some major business milestones. The VALET program will provide us with an exceptional forum for additional opportunities by opening access to export professionals and programs. We’re excited to grow our international business by working in conjunction with this strategic alliance of experts.”

The Commonwealth of Virginia exports more than $35 billion in goods and services annually. Exports of Virginia’s products and services to the world are vital to the growth of the Commonwealth, supporting more than 257,000 jobs and generating $2 billion in annual tax revenue. VEDP offers numerous programs to assist Virginia companies with selling into the global marketplace and has a network of international market research consultants covering more than 70 countries around the globe.

DASCOM Americas SBI LLC

DASCOM Americas manufactures and markets products in four distinct business units. These business units consist of conventional business transaction printers (www.dascomamericas), industrial, commercial, and marine LED lighting (www.sonarayled.com), contained environment horticulture systems (www.growhyve.com), and security identification card printers and badging (www.dascomcardprinters.com).

Each business unit represents unique opportunities for export with the contained environment horticulture unit most representative of potential positive disruptive technology that could offer urban farming choices and food supply to underserved regions in the world.

Virginia Economic Development Partnership

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1995 to encourage, stimulate, and support the development and expansion of the economy of the Commonwealth. To accomplish its objectives of promoting economic expansion within the Commonwealth, the Partnership focuses its efforts on business recruitment, expansion and international trade development.

For more information on the VALET Program, visit http://exportvirginia.org/services/programs-grants/.