Ohio Small Business Wins SBA’s 2019 Exporter of the Year Award
May 1, 2019
(SBA)
EarthQuaker Devices distributes to 47 countries
worldwide
WASHINGTON – EarthQuaker Devices has been
named 2019 Small Business Exporter of the Year
by the U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA). The Akron, Ohio-based company will be
officially recognized during National Small
Business Week, an annual event honoring the
accomplishments and contributions of the best
small businesses in the nation.
The award will be presented to EarthQuaker
Devices’ Founder/President Jamie Stillman and
CEO Julie Robbins on May 6, during a luncheon
held at the U.S. Institute of Peace, in
Washington, D.C.
“EarthQuaker Devices is a great example of
how a small business can flourish by entering
the international market. We are thrilled that
the SBA was able to assist them as they grew
into a global company,” said David Glaccum,
Associate Administrator for the Office of
International Trade.
Stillman and Robbins remain committed to
maintaining sustainable growth through
innovation and global expansion. EarthQuaker
Devices has a worldwide reputation for
producing a top-shelf product which is CE
certified to guarantee compliance with
international regulations.
EarthQuaker Devices’ increased sales afforded
them the opportunity to grew from its humble
beginnings as a basement-based business, to a
renovated two-story 15,000 sq. ft. building
where they build and distribute their products
to 47 countries worldwide. The company
continues its production in the U.S., proudly
marking their devices as “Made in Akron,
Ohio,” and employ more than 57 people.
EarthQuaker Devices participated in several
government trade promotion and financing
programs to include the Ohio International
Market Access Grant for Exporters (IMAGE)
program, funded through the State Trade
Expansion Program (STEP). In 2018, they were
awarded and used the full $25,000 grant to
develop marketing pieces. Another key to their
success is the counseling they received from
the Ohio Small Business Development Center’s
Export Assistance Network.
U.S. exports are important to the nation’s
economy, and 98 percent of all exporters are
small businesses. During fiscal year 2018, the
SBA guaranteed 476 export finance loans for
nearly $735 million, supporting over 10,900
jobs and $2.6 billion in reported export sales.
National Small Business Week is the SBA’s
annual celebration of entrepreneurship and
innovation. This year, National Small Business
Week will be recognized May 5-11, with events
planned in Washington, D.C. and around the
country.
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