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Building Innovation is a collection of stories by 90.5 fm WESA reporters about the Pittsburgh region focusing on efficient government operation, infrastructure and transportation, innovative practices, energy and environment and neighborhoods and community.

Money For Small Businesses Coming To Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania will be receiving nearly 700,000 in grant money to be distributed among small businesses for the purpose of expanding their offerings in markets abroad. The announcement was made today by Small Business Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet on a conference call with reporters.

Contreras-Sweet said the program's goals are three-fold.

“First of all it helps small businesses learn how to start exporting by introducing them to exporting opportunities. Secondly, it introduces the ones that are already exporting, it exposes them to additional markets, and third it helps them grow their revenue and workforce,” she said.

Pennsylvania’s chunk is part of $17.4 million that is being distributed across the country through the State Trade and Export Promotion program through the Small Business Administration. The money will be distributed via Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration to businesses that apply.

The money will go toward participating in foreign trade missions, international marketing campaigns and trainings. The SBA said programs such as this are important because small businesses don’t have the deep pockets bigger businesses do to introduce themselves to larger markets.

Earlier this month U.S. Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews was in Pittsburgh to kick off an initiative that would help local businesses export abroad.

There were two previous rounds of this program in 2011 and 2012. Contreras-Scott said the both incarnations of the program have been successful.