Local entrepreneurs celebrate the funding boost from the Metro Export Challenge.
Want to target the right audience? Sponsor our site and choose your specific industry to connect with a relevant audience.
Prominent brand mentions across targeted, industry-focused articles
High-visibility placements that speak directly to an engaged local audience
Guaranteed coverage that maximizes exposure and reinforces your brand presence
Interested in seeing what sponsored content looks like on our platform?
May’s Roofing & Contracting
Forwal Construction
NSC Clips
Real Internet Sales
Suited
Florida4Golf
Click the button below to sponsor our articles:
Metro Atlanta announces grants for 10 local exporters to enhance international sales efforts. The $5,000 grants come from the Metro Export Challenge, which has supported local businesses with nearly $900,000 in funding over the past decade. This initiative facilitates mentorship and travel support, contributing significantly to Georgia’s economy and promoting job creation through export development.
In a significant boost to the local economy, Metro Atlanta has recently announced that a new cohort of 10 exporters will receive $5,000 grants aimed at enhancing their international sales efforts. This funding comes from the Metro Export Challenge (MEC), an initiative coordinated by the Metro Atlanta Chamber that has made nearly $900,000 available for export development over the past decade.
The awarded grants can be directed towards various essential expenses such as attending trade shows, translating marketing materials, and qualifying global customers. In addition to the financial support, the grant recipients will benefit from mentorship provided by local organizations, including the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center and the Georgia District Export Council.
To further assist these businesses in their export pursuits, Delta Air Lines Inc. has pledged to provide a flight voucher for each company, facilitating their travel needs for international ventures.
This year’s cohort consists of a dynamic mix of product-based companies and service providers, with almost half of the recipients owned by women, minorities, or veterans. Noteworthy product companies include Just For Teens, which specializes in organic personal care for youth; EcoSlay, known for eco-friendly haircare products; and Joe Tools Inc., which produces tooling for various industries. On the service side, companies like Lockthreat LLC, offering an AI-powered risk and governance compliance platform, and Patientory, a mobile app for healthcare data sharing, are also represented.
Past MEC funding recipients have reported impressive growth, including the establishment of overseas offices and securing vital investors. For instance, last year’s MEC pitch competition runner-up, CodeMettle, intended to use an additional $10,000 in funding to participate in international defense-related trade shows.
Since its inception, the MEC has contributed nearly $1 million in grant funding, significantly benefiting small and mid-sized businesses looking to expand their international reach. Georgia’s export sales reached a record high of $53.1 billion in 2024, showcasing a growth rate of 6.4% year-over-year, outpacing the national average of 2.3%. The state’s top export products include civilian aircraft, motor vehicles, data processing machines, telephone equipment, and medical devices.
The ongoing success of local export initiatives is closely linked to job creation within Georgia. The MEC has been instrumental, generating over $5.4 million in contracts from just $50,000 in export grants last year, highlighting its effectiveness in fostering economic growth.
For those interested in learning more about exporting or the Metro Export Challenge, an upcoming event titled Export Stories will be hosted by Global Atlanta on March 12 at the Cobb Chamber.
Atlanta Mayor Leaves X for Blue Sky Amid Policy Concerns
Atlanta Appoints New Director for International Affairs
News Summary The Trump administration's ongoing efforts to change birthright citizenship have reached the Supreme…
News Summary Leo Quinn, CEO of Balfour Beatty since 2015, will resign in September 2025.…
News Summary The White House has officially withdrawn Dr. Dave Weldon's nomination to lead the…
News Summary Columbia University has expelled or suspended students for their involvement in the occupation…
News Summary A severe weather outbreak is expected to hit the Midwest and South starting…
News Summary In a tragic incident, Neil Russell, a 44-year-old man from Atlanta, has been…