Congressman Larson and U.S. Dept of Commerce Present Local Small Business with Connecticut Exporter of the Year Award
Left to Right, Congressman John B. Larson, Michael Polo, President of AdChem Manufacturing Technologies, and Anne Evans, Connecticut District Director of U.S. Department of Commerce
For Immediate Release: September 1st, 2010
Contact: Paul Mounds 860-278-8888
Congressman Larson and U.S. Dept of Commerce Present Local Small Business with Connecticut Exporter of the Year Award
Manchester, CT- Today, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) joined Anne Evans, Connecticut District Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), to announce that AdChem Manufacturing Technologies (ACMT) of Manchester was named the DOC’s 2010 Connecticut Exporter of the Year. The award was presented at the company’s headquarters on 369 Progress Dr in Manchester.
ACMT, a small business specializing in the manufacture, overhaul, and repair of aircraft engine components, currently employs 44 employees and their increased exporting efforts allowed them to create five new jobs over the past year.
Receiving the award, acknowledging the company’s recent growth and success in exporting to Europe and Asia, was ACMT President Michael Polo.
“I congratulate AdChem Manufacturing Technologies for being named our state’s Exporter of the Year. Michael Polo and his staff are prime examples of how ‘Making it in America’ can help stimulate our local economy,” said Congressman Larson. “This is a homegrown company, selling their products around the world while creating jobs here at home. Manufacturing is in our state’s DNA and ‘Made in America’ is making a comeback.”
“AdChem Manufacturing Technologies is a longtime client of the US Commercial Service office here in Middletown and has proven through their work with our trade assistance programs to be a shining example of export success,” added Anne Evans, Connecticut District Director of DOC
Through events organized and sponsored by both Congressman Larson and the U.S. Exporting Assistance Council (USEAC), ACMT received the necessary guidance and support to successfully ship their products to companies in Singapore, the United Kingdom and South Korea. Earlier in the year, ACMT President Michael Polo participated in a seminar hosted by Congressman Larson and the Connecticut US Exporting Assistance Center with Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Demtrios Marantis and also traveled on a trade mission to Israel where he met with several potential clients.
As a result of the trade mission, Polo plans to return to Israel in October and is currently in discussions to sign an agreement with one of Israel’s leading manufacturers of precision blades for industrial gas turbine engines.
Michael Polo, President of ACMT stated, “We have doubled our exports in the past twelve months focused on Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Our Overhaul and Repair capabilities in the Commercial, Military and ground turbine markets are where our focus has been and being in Connecticut with virtually every subcontracted process for Jet engine or helicopter components within driving distance, has surely only helped our sales efforts. The US Department of Commerce office headed by Anne Evans has been an invaluable resource as well as Brenda Eighmey from the CT District Export Council.”
Created by President Obama in March 2010, the National Export Initiative is an interagency partnership, including the Department of Commerce and the Small Business Administration, tasked to address our nation’s trade barriers by meeting the goal of doubling exports over the next 5 years. In order to accomplish the goal, Federal agencies will be assisting firms, especially small businesses, to overcome the hurdles of entering new export markets. This initiative is estimated to create thousands of jobs in Connecticut alone.
Congressman Larson added, “President Obama has a goal of doubling our nation’s exports over the next five years, and I am proud that Connecticut has answered that call by increasing exports by 15% this year alone. However with 95% of potential customers for businesses residing outside of the USA, and less than one percent of our nation’s 30 million companies exporting products, it is important for our nation to continue our efforts to increase exporting and provide our small businesses- the backbone of our economy- the resources and guidance to tap into this great opportunity.”
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