The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) accepts its 2019 President’s “E” Award for Export Service.
Pictured, from left, with the award are: U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross; Frank E. Emory, Jr., chairman of the EDPNC board of directors; Mike Hubbard, EDPNC director of international trade; and Gilbert Kaplan, under secretary of Commerce for international trade.
Rick Powell, president of PEMMCO Manufacturing in Asheboro, stands behind employee Carol Parker as she assembles video arms for aerospace industry use.
EDPNC Receives Nation's Top Award for Supporting U.S. Exports
The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) recently received the nation’s highest recognition for an organization contributing significantly to increasing U.S. exports ― a President’s “E” Award for Export Service presented May 23 by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
The EDPNC’s exporting services supported nearly $1 billion in international sales by 592 North Carolina businesses in 2018. That’s great news. But the EDPNC’s trade team wants to reach even more businesses in all corners of the state in 2019, because manufacturers that sell globally are more likely to retain and create new jobs. If your company hasn’t already explored EDPNC’s free export services, it’s the perfect time to reach out to the EDPNC’s trade team.
PEMMCO Manufacturing in Asheboro says international sales growth supported by the EDPNC is one reason the company launched a plant expansion that is adding 20 new jobs to PEMMCO’s current 90-person workforce. Among other services, the EDPNC helped PEMMCO secure a federal grant to offset its costs to participate in the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.
“We’re now selling our parts to a European multinational manufacturer of aircraft seating we met at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg two years ago, and that is absolutely part of why we’re growing,” said Rick Powell, president of the precision-machining company that serves the aerospace, automotive and other industries.
Read more about the award and how to connect to EDPNC’s trade team here.