The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development is now accepting applications for the 2012 Governor’s Award for Trade Excellence (GATE). The awards will be presented at the Governor’s Luncheon on Oct. 19, during the Governor’s Conference on Economic and Community Development at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel in Nashville. Nominations may be submitted at http://www.tnecdcon.com/awards.html, and the deadline to apply is Sept. 28.  

“Exporting can open up entirely new markets and sources of revenue for Tennessee businesses, and we want to honor those companies making an impact in the global marketplace,” Bill Hagerty, ECD commissioner, said.  “This past year we launched the TNTrade initiative to help boost exports by small- and medium-sized businesses and have seen great success with two different trade missions including one to China and South Korea in April followed by Mexico City in July.”

The awards are given to Tennessee companies that have shown strong export growth in three categories: large companies (250 employees or more), medium companies (under 250 employees) and small companies (under 25 employees). Businesses may nominate themselves or be nominated by a trade association, customer or a person familiar with the company’s achievements.

Nominations may be submitted online by clicking here or an application may be downloaded and mailed to ECD, Attn.: Patrick Baird, 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., 11th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243. Applications can also be scanned and emailed to Patrick.Baird@tn.gov. The deadline to submit applications is Sept. 28.  ECD will review applications and make recommendations to Governor Haslam and Commissioner Hagerty for final approval.

Recipients of the 2011 GATE award included:

• Mallory Alexander International Logistics, LLC (large companies’ category) is a worldwide freight forwarder, providing full logistics services since 1925.  Through a global network of international agents, the company has over 280 partners assisting in shipping needs in approximately 87 countries.  Approximately 30 percent of Mallory Alexander International Logistics, LLC’s 2010 sales were direct export sales. 

• Copperweld Bimetallics, LLC (medium companies’ category) is a leader in the manufacturing of bimetallic products specifically engineered for value and performance, designed from the start to combine the beneficial characteristics of two different metals.  Approximately 29 percent of Copperweld Bimetallics, LLC’s annual sales in 2010 were direct export sales. 

• Paradoxe Corporation (small companies’ category) specializes in electrical power transmission and distribution of energy and address three distinct segments: electrical utilities, industrial and construction and original equipment manufacturers. The company’s core geographical market is North America, Central America and South America. In 2010, 95 percent of Paradoxe Corporation’s annual sales were attributed to exports. 

For additional information or to submit or download a GATE application, visit http://www.tnecdcon.com/awards.html.