Over the past 12 months, SBA-backed
loans for small business exporters and for small businesses aiming to export
continued growing. SBA-backed loans totaled more than $923 million nationwide
in FY 2012, supporting $1.7 billion in small business exports.
Providing the financial backing for
small business exporters is a core mission for SBA, because it helps small
businesses create good-paying jobs and provide economic benefits to local
communities. SBA also promotes exporting by holding events around the country.
Moreover, there have been many businesses
in Nebraska that have benefited from SBA support to expand their export
operations and create jobs.
In March, representatives from
Thurston Manufacturing attended Expo Agro, a trade show in Junin, Argentina,
followed by Exportivia in Mercedes, Uruguay. The trip landed potential
distributors for their BLU-JET fertilizer and tillage products. Sales through
these contracts, according to John Twyford, the company's global trade and
compliance, global logistics and projects manager, ranges around $1 million per
distributor.
The company also visited a trade
show in South Africa which connected them with two new distributors, one in
Bothaville and another in Capetown.
"In 18 months we'll be in 15
countries," Twyford said.
Since incorporating in 1971 from
their location just southwest of Sioux City, Thurston Manufacturing has become
a leader in the manufacturing of farm equipment and side dump semi-trailers.
They leveraged an SBA-guaranteed 7(a) loan for $750,000 in 1994 to help weather
a downturn in the farm implement business.
As the producer of Circle R side
dump trailers and BLU-JET fertilizer and tillage products, Thurston
Manufacturing has seen tremendous growth within the last 24 months, from
supplying family farms directly to reaching dealers and manufacturers who
provide farmers with agricultural equipment.
Over the past year, the small
business has hired 14 additional people to help meet new product demand and
serve existing customers, and have even taken to local radio stations to
advertise their urgent need to fill nearly two dozen more jobs.
Another Nebraska company attended an
international mining trade show in Santiago, Chile, in April.
For 60 years, Elliott Equipment in
Omaha has been a leading manufacturer of customizable truck-mounted hydraulic
aerial work platforms and cranes designed for rugged and heavy-duty service
work, including underground drilling. The SBA backed a $600,000 loan for the
company in 1992; since then, they have been recognized as one of the top 20
fastest-growing companies in Omaha. Today, they employ 120 people.
As a result of the trip, Elliott
Equipment already sold one Chilean firm a $230,000 aerial work platform to be
delivered in November to demonstrate the potential of the company's
capabilities. Dave Phillips, international sales manager, said if the
demonstration effort goes well, there is a chance to sell as many as 50 to help
replace the aging fleet of cranes currently doing work in a country recognized
as a world leader in copper mining.
"It's hard to say what this will
mean for us," Phillips said. "It could end up being half our business."
