This week, I visited Raleigh Denim, a small business in North Carolina. Inspired by a junior-high shop teacher who taught him to make things by hand, a young man named Victor and his wife Sarah started their business in their apartment.  They had the idea that there could be demand for a handcrafted, iconic American-made product like jeans.  They bought a cheap, old sewing machine and hired local people who knew – or could be taught – the old-fashioned ways of American textile manufacturing, an industry that I myself learned when working for my family’s business during college. 

Their plan worked.  They’ve grown to about 15 employees, they’ve sold thousands of pairs of jeans, and now they’re expanding into overseas markets in Asia, Europe, and elsewhere.  

Today, exporting is an important way for small business to scale up and create the jobs that America needs now.  That’s one of the reasons that the President signed into law the Small Business Jobs Act last year, which gave the SBA $30 million a year for three years to award to states.  They’re called State Trade Export Promotion (STEP) grants.

These STEP grants are a good example of how we’re working with state and local governments to support regional economic development.  In Raleigh, I was joined by North Carolina’s Governor Bev Perdue to make the announcement that these funds have gone out the door nationwide. 

North Carolina – home to about 7,000 small exporters – is receiving over $600,000 in STEP grant money to help small firms participate in trade shows, to help them go on trade missions abroad, and to promote their goods and services in foreign markets.  Some of these STEP grants are even going to help provide translation services for businesses that need a website in a different language.

Let’s keep supporting small businesses like Raleigh Denim that want to start or expanding their exporting operation.  That’s our commitment here at the SBA and throughout the Administration.  If you're intrerested in exporting, go to www.export.gov

Picture Caption: SBA Administrator Karen Mills (in blue suit) and North Carolina Governor Bev Purdue (in grey suit) with Raleigh Denim owners Sarah and Victor Lytvinenko (far left and far right)

Like most of you, I remember where I was on 9/11.  My family had just moved from New York City to Maine, and I was at home with my husband Barry.   My three sons were just starting at their new schools, but they still thought of Manhattan as home.  After I saw what happened, I drove to their schools to touch base with their teachers and make sure they were OK.  That afternoon, Barry, who had just taken a job as a college president, brought his students and the local community together at the college’s gym for a time of reflection. We won’t forget that day.

This Sunday, I encourage everyone to be part of America’s National Day of Service and Remembrance to honor the nearly 3,000 innocent victims who lost their lives that day.  There are many ways you can do that.

You can find – or create – local opportunities to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11 at www.serve.gov.  At that site, you’ll find everything from food drives and neighborhood cleanups… to activities that help honor our military, our veterans, and our first responders.

If you plan to simply spend quality time with your family, I encourage you to take a moment at 1 p.m. EDT to “stop and remember,” as the U.S. Senate has called us to do. 

I also want to echo the President’s call for unity.  Our communities – and, yes, that includes small businesses – have been challenged many times since 9/11.  Each time, we have come together to show America’s resilience, and, each time, we emerge stronger than before.

Finally, I want to thank all of our veterans – including the many who work at the SBA – for their service.  You and your families have given so much over the years to strengthen our security and ensure our way of life.

I and my family are deeply grateful to you, as is the entire SBA family.