2007 Governors Conference to Recognize Tennessee Companies Efforts at Global Trade
NASHVILLE - Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Matt Kisber today announced the creation of a new business award designed to spotlight the achievements of Tennessee companies engaged in global trade. The Governor’s Award for Trade Excellence will be handed out to small, medium and large-sized companies at the annual Governor’s Conference on Economic and Community Development, September 12-13 at the Nashville Convention Center in Nashville, TN.
“Businesses in Tennessee have made great strides in terms of engagement in the global marketplace over the past five years,” said Governor Bredesen. “I believe greater emphasis on exporting Tennessee products around the world will result in more good jobs for Tennesseans.”
The awards will be given in three categories: large companies (250 or more employees), medium sized companies (less than 250 employees) and small companies (25 employees or less). Companies may nominate themselves or be nominated by a trade association, customer or a person familiar with the company’s achievements. Nominations may be submitted online at the ECD web site at www.tnecd.gov or an application may be downloaded and mailed to ECD. The department along with international trade experts from the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Nashville will review applications and make recommendations to the Governor and ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber for final approval. Application criteria and nominating details are available on the ECD web site. The deadline for nominations is August 17, 2007.
“Tennessee is one of the fastest growing export states in the nation,” said ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber. “We believe the companies who are succeeding in expanding their markets are helping Tennessee’s economy and they deserve to be recognized. By shining a light on some of our state’s success stories, the hope is that other companies will follow their example.”
Tennessee companies exported $22 billion dollars worth of goods and services to other countries in 2006, nearly double the rate of exports only five years ago. Tennessee is the 13th largest exporting state in the U.S. and one of the country’s fastest growing exporters. Over the last five years alone, Tennessee exports to China have grown by 1,103 percent according to the U.S.-China Business Council. Last month, Governor Bredesen announced he will lead a trade mission to China in October and he and Commissioner Kisber will formally open the state of Tennessee’s first China economic development office in Beijing.
Tennessee also operates economic development offices in Germany, Japan and Canada. Over 600 foreign owned companies have established business operations in Tennessee and the U.S. Business Roundtable estimates that 1-in-5 U.S. jobs and over 600,000 Tennessee jobs are tied to international trade.
Companies are encouraged to submit both qualitative and quantitative information about growth in export sales and to explain strategies utilized to overcome challenges to exporting in their application. Companies may designate sales data included in the application as proprietary or public. Questions about the application process can be directed to Mark Drury, assistant commissioner, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development at mark.drury@state.tn.us
Mailed applications may be sent to:
2007 Governor’s Award for Trade Excellence, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, 312 Eighth Avenue North, 11th floor, Nashville, TN 37243
