Atlanta Helicopter Parts Distributor Receives $5,000 Grant to Grow Exports
ATLANTA – June 9, 2017 Rotorcorp LLC is a recipient of a $5,000 grant and a semi-finalist in the annual Atlanta Metro Export Challenge (Atlanta MEC), a grant competition supported by JPMorgan Chase, UPS and Partnership Gwinnett, which boosts support for small and medium-sized businesses looking to begin exporting or to increase their export programs.
Nearly 100 companies, ranging in size from pre-revenue startups to small and established medium-sized businesses, applied for the 2017 Atlanta Metro Export Challenge. Of these, Twenty-eight companies were selected as semi-finalists and will each receive a reimbursement grant of up to $5,000 to apply toward expenses related to building export capacity and activities.
“We have always seen exports as a major area of growth for Rotorcorp,” said company Vice President Sean Casey “This grant will give us the opportunity to reach new international customers through implementation of a globally optimized e-commerce solution”. Rotorcorp expects the online sales tool to generate $3M in additional annual sales by 2020.
Rotorcorp is an Authorized Robinson Helicopter Company R22, R44 and R66 Service Center serving over one thousand customers located in forty-five countries. There are over ten thousand Robinson Helicopters in operation globally, with 60% located outside of the United States. Rotorcorp maintains the largest inventory of Robinson Parts in the world, carefully curated to meet needs of Robinson operators wherever they are located.
To see the full list of grant awardees, click here.
Rotorcorp will have a chance to win additional prize money early next year. Each semi-finalist must utilize the grant funds during the second half of 2017 and show export success to be invited back for the second round of competition at Pitch Day – a Shark Tank-style pitch session before a panel of judges. At Pitch Day, companies will present their exportable product or service, their export success with the initial grant, and a business plan detailing how they will use additional grant funds to increase exports. The top three companies will receive $20,000 (first place), $10,000 (second place), and $5,000 (third place).
The Atlanta MEC will distribute a total of $200,000 over the course of the competition. This competition is one of the key components of the Atlanta Metro Export Plan (MEP), an initiative launched in June 2015 to stimulate economic growth in the region and create quality jobs through exports. The grants competition aims to encourage area companies to export and drive business growth by increasing international sales of local products and services.
The program was created through a grant from JPMorgan Chase as part of the firm’s ongoing work to promote global competitiveness in metros around the country. This year they are joined by UPS, contributing an additional $25,000, and Partnership Gwinnett, contributing $5,000.
“Companies with global perspectives are more likely to create new jobs and tend to be more resilient and innovative as they respond to global market demand,” said David Balos, head of Chase Middle Market Banking. “We applaud the latest round of winners and believe these export efforts will lead to more job creation and growth for our local economy in Metro Atlanta.”
“We congratulate the first round winners for their innovation and focus on global growth. UPS is honored to be a part of this collaborative effort to encourage metro Atlanta companies to explore and pursue export opportunities,” said Bill Seward, U.S. International President at UPS. “Being an integral part of the Atlanta Metro Export Challenge aligns with UPS’s commitment to expand our customers’ horizons and connect a global community through intelligent logistics networks.”
The Atlanta MEP is being implemented by multiple organizations, including the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the City of Atlanta and Partnership Gwinnett working in partnership with several other regional and local economic development agencies, public and private organizations.
The MEP is the first phase of Atlanta’s participation in the Global Cities Initiative (“GCI”), a joint project of the Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase that aims to help leaders in U.S. metropolitan areas reorient their economics toward greater engagement in world markets.
June 21, 2017 Global Atanta:
Export Challenge Names First 28 Awardees to Receive $5,000
About Rotorcorp, LLC
Rotorcorp, LLC is the leading provider of parts, engines and major components for Robinson Helicopters- the most widely produced helicopter in the world. Since our inception in 2011, Rotorcorp has grown to serve over one thousand customers in forty-five different countries. In that time Robinson owners, operators and maintainers have come to rely on Rotorcorp expert staff, competitive pricing and unparalleled distribution network to keep their helicopters airworthy- no matter where they are located. www.rotorcorp.com
About JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.5 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.
About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web at ups.com and its corporate blog can be found at longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS or follow @UPS_News.
