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Virginia Companies 'AIMING' for New Sales Overseas Will Receive State Funding and Expert Services Virginia Companies 'AIMING' for New Sales Overseas In early December, Governor Warner announced that five companies from the Southside and Southwest regions of Virginia were accepted into the Virginia Economic Development Partnership's new Accessing International Markets (AIM) export development program on December 1, 2005. "AIM presents a new and innovative opportunity for Virginia companies to successfully enter the global marketplace," said Governor Warner. "This program will position new-to-export companies, or companies entering a new market, to confidently face the challenges of international sales and realize the benefits of exporting." Companies accepted into the first AIM class include PC Design, Inc. in Altavista; Electronic Development Labs in Danville; American Mine Research in Rocky Gap; Virginia Insulated Products in Saltville; and Hoover Color Corporation in Hiwassee. Funding for the program was granted through Governor Warner's "Virginia Works" Initiative. Virginia's distressed regions have generally experienced fewer of the positive implications of the increasingly global business environment. AIM was developed to help reverse this trend. Based on a competitive application process, 20 companies will be accepted into the AIM program each year. Each quarter, five new participants will benefit from the AIM program's $5,000 in capital resources, focused AIM Team research, as well as the pro-bono professional services available from AIM Partner resources. These resources will be used to develop and implement a Market Access Plan (MAP) to help companies systematically sell overseas. Markets to be pursued in the inaugural class include countries in South America, Europe and Asia. The AIM "MAP" approach can be replicated in other markets once participants graduate from the one year AIM Program. The March 1, 2006 and June 1, 2006 AIM classes will be comprised exclusively of companies from Southwest and Southside Virginia. The AIM program will be made available to companies statewide starting September 1, 2006 and quarterly thereafter. Companies from Southwest or Southside Virginia that are interested in participating in the June 1, 2006 classes should contact Elizabeth Morgan at EMorgan@YesVirginia.org or by phone at (804) 545-5768. More details on the AIM Program and the AIM Program application are available on-line (click here) or on the Program tab of our website at www.ExportVirginia.org. Will Receive State Funding and Expert Services