July 15, 2020
Two business owners who received export assistance scholarships from Greater Portland Inc have been featured in local publications. The Growing Small Businesses Globally scholarships provide access to one-on-one training sessions with export advisors, as well as a stipend for internationally focused sales activities. GPI announced the fourth round of scholarship recipients in June, knowing that these scholarships come at a crucial time for small business owners.
Mike Seely, a third-generation mint farmer who operates the sprawling Seely Family Farm in Clatskanie with his wife Candy, was featured in the Columbia County Spotlight. Seely already exports to Canada, but said the scholarship will be a big help, especially as his sales have dropped off amid the pandemic.
"There's not always the cash flow to go do something," he said. "Frankly, if I didn't have that scholarship, we probably would not be entertaining as seriously (exporting) to Southeast Asia or Western Europe. You only have so much money, and you can only do so many things. Not only us, but it gives other entrepreneurs in Oregon and Washington the opportunity to take a look and evaluate the opportunities across the world." Read the full story here.
In early July, the Wilsonville Spokesman highlighted local entrepreneur Nancy Faubel, who owns natural foods company Pure Wild Oregon. Faubel plans to export products like her gluten-free taco seasoning to Vietnam, Japan and The Philippines, and is optimistic that exports will pick back up soon. "Gluten-free is big in a lot of Asian cultures and is getting big in this country too," she said. Read the full story here.
Learn more about the Growing Small Businesses Globally scholarship program here.