The Colorado International Trade Office (ITO) has launched an export development grant program with the mission of increasing Colorado companies’ ability to export their products and services to global markets.

Grant award: Grantees will receive between $500-2,000 to apply towards travel expenses, trade show exhibition or attendance, business match-making services with potential buyers, distributors and/or sales agents, and/or other direct expenses related to developing a new target market for exports.

Who may apply: The grant is open to companies of all industry sectors, including services, with the exception of agricultural commodities and food products. Applicants should be Colorado companies with 200 or fewer employees. Grantees may apply the award to a new target market of their choosing, and should be export-ready.

Applications due Thursday, September 30, 2010

Awards will be announced Monday, November 1, 2010

To Apply: Application materials are available at:  www.colorado.gov/trade  or by calling to 303-892-3850