The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) has selected 10 projects to receive a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) to compete for $3 million in loans and grants from the new Export Assistance Program.

The Export Assistance Program is an integral component of Gov. Chris Gregoire’s state export initiative. The initiative also directs the state to help 5,000 Washington businesses achieve $600 million in new export sales. A review panel consisting of CERB members and experts in state export promotion evaluated 31 proposed projects supporting growth of Washington state product and service exports. The 10 finalist projects, totaling $5.5 million, are now invited to submit a full proposal for further consideration.

Projects selected to submit a full proposal are:

1. World Trade Center Tacoma/Tacoma Community College — $248,000 — Export China Initiative;

2. Tacoma Community College — $298,857 — Technical Assistance with Global Exporting: Creation of a Professional-Level Instructional Certificate Program in Global Exporting;

3. City of Bellevue — $157,000 — Asia Target Markets Trade Development: Trade Promotion Strategy for China, Korea, and Japan using Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Platforms;

4. City of Bellevue — $70,000 — Insights on India: Educational Materials and Case Studies on Culture, Communications, Management and Negotiations related to Doing Business from Washington State with Companies in India;

5. Clark College/Association of Washington Business Institute — $840,750 — Exports Zone Resource Center/Green Building Material Manufacturing Pilot Program;

6. Port of Clarkston — $100,000 — Snake River Boat Builders Export Program;

7. Highline Community College — $413,360 — T.R.A.D.E. Training-Ready to Advance Development of Exports: A Business Export Readiness Model;

8. University of Washington — $1,560,000 — Building Export Competence in Washington State Businesses;

9. Washington State University/Small Business Development Centers — $1,291,097 — SBDC New-to-Export Initiative;

10. Western Washington University — $585,726 — Jump Start Washington Exports (JustWaEx).

Responding to the export assistance needs of Washington businesses, CERB is targeting innovative projects that leverage high amounts of other funding and can measurably increase Washington state exports in the short term and over the next five years. By encouraging collaboration among applicants, as well as creative solutions to the export problems facing businesses, CERB aims to fund projects which will achieve substantial, profitable results. RFP responses are due Aug. 23, 2010. The panel will review these proposals and make a recommendation to CERB for project funding. Funds will be awarded by CERB in September 2010. For more information about the CERB Export Assistance Program, visit http://www.commerce.wa.gov/cerb/export .