The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), one of six partners of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP), was recently awarded the nation’s highest recognition for organizations promoting increased U.S. exports. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross attributed EDPNC’s efforts to support nearly $1 billion in export sales last year, mostly involving small- and mid-sized businesses that don’t have in-house export specialists, for receiving the award.

“Businesses that export have much greater growth potential and are more likely to create new jobs,” says John Loyack, the partnership’s vice president for global business services.

In 2018, the EDPNC assisted 592 North Carolina businesses in 94 counties with exporting, including helping more than 140 companies take part in 32 international trade shows or events in 16 countries.

Those businesses reported $958 million in foreign sales in 2018, a 30% increase from 2015.

About NCMEP

The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) is the official representative of the MEP National Network™ and NIST MEP in North Carolina. The MEP National Network™ is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing.

Contact

Teresa Bradford
Marketing Director, NCMEP
919.515.7885   tabradfo@ncsu.edu