Richard Leite of Simtech is the SBA Exporter of the Year!!

Shared with permission via SBA Email, October 6, 2020

We'd like to offer a HUGE NMC Congratulations to Simtech for this achievement! Congratulations!

The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in Connecticut recently announced its 2020 Small Business Week Awardees, and the Exporter of the Year award goes to Richard Leite, President & CEO of Simtech, Inc.,!  An SBA Exporter of the Year is one that shows increased sales, profits and/or growth of employment because of exporting. One that establishes creative overseas marketing strategies, and has extensive exporting history as well as current export markets, which is all that encompasses Simtech.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and recognizing those who work so hard to achieve success is truly an honor, Simtech is a natural fit for this award, says Connecticut Interim District Director Mark S. Hayward. With their unique customer base in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin and North America as well as the U.S. Government, Simtech is poised to stay around for many more years to come." Simtech Inc., was established in 1988 in East Granby, CT as a lead distributor for often hard to find spare parts of military aerospace components to foreign and domestic customers, they also supply spares directly to the U.S. Government.

Through partnerships with original equipment manufacturers and other world class manufacturers, Simtech has built relationships on inventory of parts and delivery solutions to meet their customers demands.  By offering repair services for many aircraft components their OEM’s allow them to service parts such as bleed air systems, actuators, and radar systems.

Anne Evans, District Director of the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Middletown nominated Simtech as she has worked extensively with them utilizing the one-on-one counseling with trade specialists as well as assisting them in taking full advantage of SBA’s State Trade and Export grant program funding for extra support. “Simtech has been a leader in our state in demonstrating how a small company with an excellent reputation in meeting their customers’ demands can expand their market and profit from global sales.” Simtech makes sure they have a seat at the table by being regular participants in the Connecticut District Export Council and help promote small company exports from CT.  

National Small Business Week will be celebrated September 20-24, it honors the nation’s small businesses, many of which are veteran, women and minority-owned, for their achievements and dedication to their communities. This year’s National Small Business Week activities will include numerous educational panels providing retooling and innovative practices for entrepreneurs as our nation’s small businesses look to pivot and recover toward a stronger economy. To register for the virtual conference visit: https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.                                                                                    

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Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut Awarded $1.4 Million for Pilot Program To Strengthen Defense Manufacturing Supply Chains

CT.gov, September 23, 2020

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that a Connecticut consortium, led by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), has been awarded a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment that will fund the Digital Model Initiative, a two-year pilot program to accelerate the adoption of 3-D design and manufacturing technology throughout Connecticut’s defense supply chains. The $1.4 million federal grant will be matched by a $350,000 grant from DECD.

“Connecticut’s defense manufacturers are known worldwide for the quality of their work and commitment to innovation,” Governor Lamont said. “This grant will help our small and mid-sized companies adopt the cutting-edge technologies needed to meet the evolving needs of our large defense contractors and ensure our supply chains are second to none when it comes to quality and efficiency.”

“Tens of thousands of Connecticut workers design and manufacture parts for programs such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, Columbia-class submarine, and the CH-53K helicopter,” the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation – including Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and Congressmen John Larson, Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, Jim Himes, and Jahana Hayes – said in a joint statement. “The small and medium-sized manufacturing companies throughout our state are critical to Connecticut’s continued defense industry leadership. It is imperative that the supply chain workforce receive focused investments to support the rapid development of these next-generation defense programs. We are proud to have advocated for this important grant, and we will continue to fight to ensure Connecticut’s businesses remain on the leading edge of manufacturing technology.”

The Digital Model Initiative will initially focus on helping six Connecticut small and medium-sized suppliers implement 3-D modeling, design and production capabilities. The companies selected will be a part of the supply chains for helicopters, submarines and jet engines.  MORE >>>