Arvada Economic Development Association Links Local Manufacturers To National Trade Adjustment Assistance Funding Program Designed to Help Small Firms Face Foreign Competition

ARVADA, Colo., Oct. 6, 2006 – Two local manufacturers have qualified for funding from a unique national trade remedy program designed to help small firms adjust to increasing aggressive global competition.

In partnership with the Arvada Economic Development Association (AEDA), firefighting equipment maker S&H Products, and Sun Company, a custom promotional products manufacturer, are now engaged with the Department of Commerce’s Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms program (TAA).

The TAA turn-around team has already conducted an assessment of each businesses’ strengths and weaknesses, studied industry competition and identified ways to help each company make adjustments to become more competitive. Technical assistance for S&H Products will focus on engineering product development and sophisticated marketing programs. For Sun Company, TAA will help establish resource alignment and sales strategies to enable the firm to capitalize on market opportunities and achieve revenue growth.

“TAA is one of the most reliable trade remedy programs because we combine consulting expertise with value-added services and grant funding to help companies save jobs, survive and thrive in today’s global economy,” said Edvard Hag, director of the Rocky Mountain Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (RMTAAC), a regional office of the national program that works in partnership with the AEDA. “Our approach is to expound on the unique assets of these small manufacturing firms to position them as leaders at the forefront of their industries.”

“Often the soul of local economies like Arvada’s, small manufacturing firms are faced with a barrage of unique and changing circumstances,” said Hazel Hartbarger, deputy director of the AEDA. “The AEDA and RMTAAC, working together, have taken small but important steps toward ensuring that firms in our community are able to compete against aggressive global competitors.”

Administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, TAA for Firms is the only proven turn-around specialist that delivers reliable trade remedies to small U.S. manufacturers, producing dramatic and measurable increases in sales and job growth during times of global change. The program is managed by a network of 11 not-for-profit organizations across the country such as RMTAAC in the Rocky Mountain region. For more information, please call John Metzger at 303-786-7000 x2202 (john@metzger.com), Tania Bahr-Torline at 303-499-8222 x20 (tania.bahr-torline@colorado.edu), or visit www.RMTAAC.org




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