SHAHEEN: EXPORTS INCREASE JOBS AND HELP BUSINESSES GROW

(Laconia, NH)  — Exporting is a crucial way to increases jobs and help businesses grow, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) said during her visit to manufacturing company Stamping Technologies today in Laconia.  Shaheen, who has worked to increase exports and encourage innovation to drive New Hampshire’s economic growth, also discussed her efforts to connect businesses with federal resources that help companies sell goods overseas.

“Increasing our exports is critical to increasing jobs.  America makes the best, most innovative products, yet while 95 percent of the world’s consumers are overseas, only one percent of small businesses export. That leaves tremendous room for growth.” Shaheen said. “New Hampshire was first in the nation among states in rate of export growth in 2010 and we need to take that kind of success throughout the country.”

Stamping Technologies manufactures metal parts primarily for defense-related applications and employs 23 people.

“Stamping Technologies is a great example of how exporting can help businesses grow. The manufacturing company made its first exporting deal last year, which grew its revenue by 20 percent and allowed it to hire additional employees,” Shaheen said. “I work to support businesses like Stamping Technologies by looking at ways Congress can help increase exports, and connecting companies in New Hampshire with federal resources that help them sell goods overseas.”

"We are very pleased to have Senator Jeanne Shaheen visit our facility with representatives from the Small Business Administration and other exporting organizations to discuss expanding the export portion of our business,” said Stamping Technologies President Mark St. Gelais. “As an American manufacturer, we are proud to be supplying our client in Germany with telecommunication components and look forward to expanding our exports to different countries."

Shaheen has long focused on economic policies that boost exports from New Hampshire and the nation.

She co-sponsored provisions in the Small Business Jobs Act to boost programs that help small businesses sell their products and services overseas. In January, she brought Export-Import Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg for a pair of roundtable discussions with small business owners and trade associations. She also held other New Hampshire events about the issue of exporting:  one last March that brought businesses together with state and federal trade officials and one in November that focused on export control policy.