JOHNSTOWN, Pa., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Exporting has allowed United Medical Fabricators to retain its staff of 60 employees and increase sales while its supply partners have begun to grow, thanks to the Small Business Administration-funded State Trade Export Program in Pennsylvania. With STEP, a three-year pilot trade and export initiative authorized by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, UMF president and CEO Eileen Melvin embarked on Middle Eastern trade missions to export medical examination tables made by her company in Johnstown to hospitals in Saudi Arabia.

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U.S. Small Business Administration officials, along with federal, state and local government officials toured UMF on Monday to mark the company's exporting success. "I have to commend the Pennsylvania state government in what they do," said U.S. Rep. Mark Critz.

"We have a very robust program here to help entrepreneurs in the state identify and then go after opportunities outside this country. What we do at the federal level is put funding in to help these organizations that do this international trade and international travel because without it, they could never do it on their own," Critz said.

Melvin used help from Pennsylvania's STEP program, to determine countries that would be likely to purchase UMF's medical equipment. State agencies were able to assist her in developing necessary overseas business relationships.   

STEP grants are being awarded to state international trade agencies to support increased exporting by small businesses, which enables businesses like UMF to hire more workers, and make infrastructure investments that create more demand for small manufacturers, said acting SBA Regional Administrator Bridget Bean.

Bean is pleased with the trade expansion UMF medical has been experiencing. "Small businesses employ about half of the nation's work force and small businesses like UMF who export are helping propel our economy forward," Bean said. "STEP grants are a great example of how SBA is working with state and local governments to support regional economic development."

"The Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission employs staff dedicated to international trade," Melvin said. "With their assistance our export sales increased more than 60% over last year. Now, across our country and the world, newborn babies are examined on UMF Medical pediatric tables. As they grow up, they are treated on our exam tables."

Contact: Janet Heyl (412) 395-6560, ext. 103 | Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

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SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

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