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Global Export Market Service (GEMS)
GEMS assists New
York companies by providing matching grants
for export marketing projects for
new-to-export and new-to-market companies.
The funds are typically used to pay for
consulting services resulting in export
market development plans that benefit
individual companies, groups of companies or
industry associations. Grants are also
available for regionally-based world trade
or economic development organizations
serving as multipliers for export assistance
in their respective geographic areas of
coverage.
Designed to help small and medium-sized
businesses get the technical, financial and
marketing assistance they need to succeed in
international markets, GEMS can provide up
to $25,000 in export marketing consultant
services custom-tailored to a company’s
specific international business development
needs. Groups of companies or industry
associations can request up to $50,000 to
fund export trade development services. GEMS
will cover up to 50% of the total acceptable
project costs within the maximum funding
described.
GEMS funding
can be used for a variety of activities
designed to help your company expand
internationally, such as :
-
Identify
and assess overseas markets;
-
Develop
comprehensive market entry strategies on
a country-by-country basis;
-
Research,
recommend and develop appropriate
distribution channels;
-
Develop
timely, product-specific competitive
market intelligence;
-
Assess
export operations and fulfillment
capacity;
-
Train staff
in export operations;
-
Create new
international marketing materials;
-
Develop
after-sales support or service for
foreign markets;
-
Adapt
product to meet overseas market
specifications;
GEMS Eligibility Requirements
Eligible
participants must either be a New York State
manufacturer, service or agricultural
business with 500 or fewer employees and
whose New York State production content is
at least 51%. The Program is also open to
educational institutions and regional
non/not-for-profit organizations, such as
world trade groups that develop innovative
programs to help New York State firms expand
their exporting skills and activities.
Empire State
Development’s International Trade
Specialists are available to help design and
review project statements and research
proposals. To learn more about GEMS and
your organization’s eligibility,
please
contact the New York City office at (212)
803-2300 or the
ESD Regional Office nearest
you.
GEMS Success
Stories
Below are some
examples of successful GEMS projects :
Kruysman,
a
division of International Filing Company, is
a New York City
producer of high-end printed portfolios and
expanding envelopes. “With GEMS
assistance, our sales in the Western
European markets have increased more than
four fold," according to General Manager
Richard Loiacono. Our international
expansion has continued as we recently
entered into partnerships in the Caribbean
and Latin American markets for distribution
of our Made in New York products."
Bren-Tronics,
Inc.
of Commack produces “smart” nickel metal
hydride, lithium ion, and lithium polymer
batteries and charging systems for the U.S.
military. Working with a consultant under a
GEMS grant, Bren-Tronics identified the
Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern markets as
areas of potential growth in an era of U.S.
military downsizing. Following completion
of the GEMS study, one of the first actions
Bren-Tronics took was to participate in a
Middle Eastern trade exhibition, which
brought them a large order from one of the
Gulf States’ armed forces.
President and CEO
William Ehman wrote to ESD at the conclusion
of the project, saying, “We are grateful
that New York State offers such programs as
GEMS that give small businesses the
opportunity for expansion.”
Bren-Tronics’
founder Leo Brenna reported major increases
in sales and employment and directly
attributes the growth to ESD International
Division assistance through GEMS, EMAS and
attendance at trade shows and missions. |
