CenterState CEO and CNYIBA Launch Export Catalyst Pilot Program

Furthering efforts to help Central New York businesses successfully navigate a complex global marketplace, JPMorgan Chase has awarded CenterState CEO a $40,000 grant to establish an Export Catalyst Pilot Program, targeting middle market businesses in the region. The program will help businesses establish and grow their international sales by matching export specialists with companies to provide analysis and support for export growth. Through mentoring and one-on-one skills training, company staff will gain the knowledge and experience they need to continue to grow internationally.

“Too often, middle market companies face multiple barriers to growing their business internationally,” said Bill Dehmer, managing director and market president for JPMorgan Chase. “Our support for CenterState CEO is one more way we are helping Central New York businesses successfully navigate a complex global marketplace. We believe that it is our fundamental corporate responsibility to use our global reach, expertise, and, of course, our access to capital to support the communities where we live and work.”

The Export Catalyst Pilot Program builds on the work CenterState CEO and its partners started through the CenterState Metropolitan Export Initiative, developed as part of the Global Cities Initiative, a joint project of the Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase, further advancing its joint global trade strategy.

“For the last three years we have worked with businesses throughout the region, engaging them in global opportunities and are beginning to see results,” said Robert Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “We are grateful to JPMorgan Chase and the Brookings Institution for their continued support as we advance our strategies and goals to increase the number of businesses that are exporting. Through this program we will be well positioned to leverage global opportunities to create a more sustainable and productive economy.”

During the pilot, four to six companies will be matched with export specialists to provide market identification and assessment, entry requirements, and buyer identification services. The goal is to catalyze export growth for companies that have a globally competitive product but lack experience or capacity for international sales.
Assisting CenterState CEO in its efforts, the Central New York International Business Alliance will play a key role in working with businesses to help them establish and grow their international sales.

"Fundamental to the expansion of sales outside our borders is a knowledge base to construct a successful road map to permit businesses in our community to flourish in the global marketplace,” said Alan Fink, president of the CNYIBA. "The Export Catalyst Pilot Program brings to Central New York an exceptional opportunity for companies participating to gain a pledged able resource to assist with the right choices for expansion of their international sales network and strategies for new market entry. Export sales do account for significant revenues for companies here locally and efforts of this kind will pave way to allow more Central New York companies to profit similarly."

Following a pilot, CenterState CEO plans to expand and create a permanent program to ensure continued growth for middle market companies in the area.

About JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.6 trillion and operations worldwide. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small business, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

About CNYIBA
The Central New York International Business Alliance was formed as a not-for-profit organization to enhance global sales of businesses in the 12-county CenterState New York region. It achieves its goal by: connecting new to export companies with experienced export mentors; providing experienced guidance and counseling to companies looking to expand international sales; encouraging the exchange of ideas among its members; collecting, organizing and providing its members information regarding international trade, financing, marketing and other essential information to support their international business. The CNYIBA also conducts export focused events and supports the award winning ExportNY program, helping to inform and educate the regions exporters. It is the Small Business Administration's designated regional Export Outreach Team. www.cnyiba.net