In an increasingly interconnected world, expanding business operations globally can yield exceptional results for small businesses. The Atlanta Metro Export Challenge (MEC), a grant program offered by the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC), assists Georgia-based companies with critical tools to fuel their growth in international markets – one small grant at a time.  

“We found that from the $50,000 that we provided to this reimbursement grant, more than 3 million in export sales were supported. That’s remarkable from just 10 companies each receiving $5,000 each,” said Stefan Harrigan, Manager of Global Business Development at MAC, at the Metro Export Challenge Pitch Day, according to Global Atlanta’s coverage of the event.  

Supported by a network of economic development partners, the Atlanta Metro Export Challenge stands as one of the region’s largest and most impactful economic development programs, enabling businesses to expand and thrive in global markets.

Small grant impact   

While a $5,000 boost may seem modest, small grants are driving substantial gains for Georgia businesses. TransGlobe LLC, an international trade and development company based in Woodstock, used MEC funding to attend the International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta where the company made a connection that ultimately allowed it to expand in the Latin American market.  

“From this $5,000, we met an individual who was able to go to Latin America – Guatemala – and we earned, in five months, $1.5 million worth of contracts,” Karen Koppenhaver of TransGlobe told the panel of judges.    

How Atlanta Metro Export Challenge works  

• The annual Atlanta Metro Export Challenge awards a select cohort of companies with a $5,000 grant to use towards a multitude of export-related activities, including market research, trade show attendance, or marketing and logistics efforts. Companies are selected based on their eligibility and proposals submitted as part of the application process.
• The cohort then receives mentorship and guidance from industry leaders and trade experts to develop and refine market entry strategies over the course of the year-long program.
• The program culminates in the Metro Export Challenge Pitch Day, an opportunity to compete for additional funding based on the execution of proposed global sales strategies. This allows entrepreneurs to increase their visibility and exhibit achievements made possible through support of the program.  

2024 MEC Pitch Day winners  

Here is how the 2024 Metro Export Challenge Pitch Day winners leveraged their $5,000 grants to make significant progress in the international market:   

• ProgenaCare Global, a medical device company located in Coweta County, was awarded an additional $15,000. John Daniel, Co-founder of ProgenaCare, shared how the grant helped the company the company with access  the Middle Eastern market.

  • ProgenaCare’s participated in Arab Health with help from the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Trade team, where they and other Georgia companies make contacts that frequently lead to new sales

  • At Arab Health, the company met a Jordanian distributor who helped the company secure Jordanian FDA approval in a short period of six months.

  • Jordan became the entry point for ProgenaCare’s business in the Middle Eastern market.

• CodeMettle, a Sandy Springs-based software company that focuses on foreign military sales, was awarded an additional $10,000. According to Global Atlanta’s event recap, David Lassiter, VP of CodeMettle, explained how the original $5,000 grant “opens up a lot more internationally for foreign military sales” by supporting critical access to defense trade shows such as Eurosatory.

  • Attending the show with GDEcD’s Trade team, along with similar events, helped the company pursue opportunities in the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Spain.

  • In the same year the company landed its first international sales beyond the Canadian market, international sales increased to reflect 10% of total revenue.

• Dr. Noze Best, an Atlanta-based company that created the Nozebot nasal aspirator for infants, was awarded an additional $5,000 for their efforts. Dr. Noze Best CEO Christy Brown said that the grant facilitated the company’s entry into the Canadian market, while also helping them identify Australia as a key target market for future global expansion.

  • Similarly to ProgenaCare, attending Arab Health with GDEcD’s Trade team allowed the company to make new global contacts.  

For companies looking to expand globally, a small but mighty $5,000 grant may land them on the path to success.   

Driving Georgia’s economic growth  

Over the past decade, Georgia’s exports have broken multiple annual records and surged by 26%. This significant increase sets the state apart as a leader in international trade.  

The success of this year’s Atlanta MEC companies underscores the importance of export-related initiatives in driving small business growth. The Atlanta MEC and similar programs mean Georgia businesses can tap into new markets, resulting in diversified revenue streams and contributions to the state’s growing international trade portfolio.   

Involved partners such as the GDEcD Trade team provide support and mentorship to companies that are part of the program. Market research, access to trade shows, industry best practices, and the Georgia Export Grant are among the many resources provided by these participating organizations.   

Ready to take your business global? Learn more about the Atlanta Metro Export Challenge or connect with GDEcD’s Trade team to explore opportunities to expand international sales. 

Global Atlanta covered the 2024 Metro Challenge Pitch Day event and competitors in greater detail here: Seeding Sales: Export Challenge Winners Take Home $30K, Report Impact of Original Grants.