SBA Regional Administrator Tours Carlisle Small Business, Z-Band Inc., that is Creating Jobs, Exporting

SBA-Backed Business Counseling Helps Veteran-Owned High-Tech Design and Manufacturer Grow 30% Per Year and Export to China, Afghanistan, Bermuda, Canada, Hungary, South Korea

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Small Business Administration Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Natalia Olson-Urtecho toured Z-Band, Inc. – a successful Carlisle-based small business that is exporting internationally – to spotlight how SBA and Administration programs can help small businesses grow, create jobs, and export internationally Jan. 31.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110909/DC65875LOGO)

"Today, we live in a truly global economy," Olson-Urtecho said "and we know that to stay competitive American businesses must embrace that reality and make a place for themselves in the global marketplace."

Business counseling through the SBA-backed Kutztown University Small Business Development Center helped Z-Band grow and taught its leadership how to export internationally.

"Breaking into foreign markets can be complex, even for businesses that have long track records of success stateside, Olson-Urtecho said. "That's why SBA-backed business counseling through SBA resource partners – SCORE, the Womens' Business Centers, and the Small Business Development Centers – are so important. Small businesses can turn to them, just as Z-Band did, for guidance on anything from starting and growing a business to exporting across the globe."

Kutztown SBDC counselors closely advised Z-Band on business planning, growth strategy, financing and how to build an export business. Kutztown SBDC counselors helped Z-Band write a business plan, fine-tune its grant-writing processes, build an effective compliance program and cultivate relationships with economic development and export organizations. Today, Z-Band boasts a 30% per year growth rate and sells product throughout the U.S., Canada, and worldwide. Thanks to that success, Z-Band is creating jobs across Pennsylvania – both at its Carlisle headquarters and its three Pennsylvania contract manufacturing sites.

Z-Band also leveraged programs and assistance from the following organizations to help it grow: Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber, Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) and Ben Franklin Technology Partners.

Joining Olson-Urtecho at Z-Band were: Richard Snyder, Principal, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Z-Band, Inc.; Martin Brill, International Marketing Specialist, Kutztown University SBDC; Jay "Buck" Swisher, Field Representative for Congressman Lou Barletta; Melissa N. McLaughlin, Director of Business Finance, Harrisburg Regional Chamber, CREDC; and Pamela Martin, Director, Southcentral Region, Ben Franklin Technology Partners.

SBA's district offices serve every state and territory in the United States and SBA works with its local resource partners – SCORE, Small Business Development Centers, and Women's Business Centers – to provide technical business counseling to entrepreneurs at every stage of small business development. Assistance is available on a broad spectrum of business-related topics, including: writing a formal business plan, locating sources of financial assistance, managing and expanding a business, government contracting, exporting, and disaster recovery.

Z-Band markets and sells a full spectrum RF television distribution system to a variety of industries, including: education, government, healthcare, hospitality, and Fortune 1000 commercial businesses. The Z-Band system facilitates large-scale television distribution over Category cable verses Coax cable in classrooms and dormitory rooms; military barracks and command centers; hospital rooms and family lounges; hotel rooms and casino floors; and corporate offices and trading floors.

Some of Z-Band's best-known customers include: Penn State University, Rice University and University of Southern California; Kaiser Permanente Hospitals, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University Hospital; Univision, Black Entertainment Television and Sesame Workshop; DOW Chemical, Hess Oil, and Devon Energy; Navistar, GE Power, and the NCAA; Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America.

Z-Band also serves a number of U.S. federal government institutions, such as: the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Departments of Agriculture and Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, Air and Army National Guard facilities nationwide and the Defense Logistics Agency. Z-Band also provides its video solution to Canadian government departments of National Defense, Justice and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Photos available upon request.

Release No: 13-10

Contact: Jennifer Pilcher (610) 382-3084(o)
(610)312-8223(c)
Alternate Contact: Robert Goza (610) 382-3088  
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SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration