Home » $5,000 grants available to small to mid-size companies in BEAM region

$5,000 grants available to small to mid-size companies in BEAM region

Deadline to apply March 10

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 26, 20170) — The Bluegrass Economic Advancement Movement (BEAM) and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation today announced they are now accepting grant applications to help small to mid-size companies grow their export potential.

Bluegrass Economic Advancement Movement  counties.
Bluegrass Economic Advancement Movement counties.

The BEAM International 2.0 Export Promotion Grant Program is funded by a $220,000 grant from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation and will offer individual grants up to $5,000 for the purpose of connecting qualified companies located in the 22-county BEAM region to activities, services and resources that support export development.

By providing assistance with the costs of business development and export services, this program helps companies build a strong foundation, access relevant research, and identify international partners and opportunities.

Funds can be used for an export readiness assessment, market research, international partner search, international business meetings, strategic planning, and improvement of web presence, translation services, trade missions, analysis of supply chain, and cash flow, and additional services to prepare companies to do business in an international marketplace.

Key partner providers include the U.S. Commercial Service/U.S. Export Assistance Center, World Trade Center Kentucky, Small Business Development Center and other regional organizations.

The BEAM 2.0 grant was originally announced in late 2016, with the rollout of the BEAM Global Trade and Investment Plan that was released in collaboration with the Brookings Global Cities Initiative. BEAM was selected to develop these plans to increase the region’s international engagement in support of its broad economic development goals. The first BEAM Regional Export Plan was released in 2013, along with a $200,000 grant awarded by JPMorgan Chase

The deadline for submitting applications is March 10.