Eight Va. companies graduate from VEDP export program

Eight companies became the latest to graduate from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday.

The VALET program helps Virginia companies use international exporting as a growth strategy. During the two-year program, businesses learn international sales plan development services through trainings from international service providers, meetings with potential partners, educational events and market research.

There are currently 48 companies participating in the VALET program. Since VALET’s inception in 2002, 368 Virginia companies have been accepted into the program.

These companies are the latest to graduate:

• AccuTec Blades Inc., Augusta County
• Balchem Corp., Alleghany County
• Cvent Inc., Fairfax County
• GovSolutions Inc., Virginia Beach
• Greenberry’s Franchising Corp., Albemarle County
• NanoSonic Inc., Giles County
• Paul’s Fan Co., Buchanan County
• Thomas Automation Management Inc. (TAM Inc.), Carroll County

Virginia exports over $35 billion in goods and services annually, supporting more than 257,000 jobs and generating $2 billion in annual tax revenue, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

VEDP President and CEO Stephen Moret said in a statement, “The VALET program puts participating companies on the fast track to international business growth by connecting them with the necessary tools for successful international sales. … The VALET program has a proven track record of helping Virginia businesses increase export sales, and we look forward to the continued global success of these graduating companies in the coming years, contributing to the commonwealth’s economic growth.”