U.S. Department of Commerce Opens New
Export Assistance Center in West Texas
Two Local Companies Receive Export Achievement Awards

Midland, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Commerce today opened a new U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) in West Texas to serve small and medium-sized companies in over 70 counties. The new office will help companies in communities from Abilene to El Paso and Big Bend to Amarillo get involved in exporting their goods and services abroad.

"American workers and American products are the best in the world," said Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans, a Midland native. "President Bush has acted aggressively to open foreign markets to U.S. products and services and to make sure our workers can compete on a level playing field. The team we have here on the ground will help West Texas companies grow their businesses through exporting and create good jobs for the people of Texas. "

Two local companies, Eckel Manufacturing Company and Milestone Architectural Ornamentation, Inc., have already benefited from the services of the Commerce Department's U.S. Commercial Service. These companies received Export Achievement Awards for making successful export sales in new markets.

The U.S. Commercial Service is a U.S. Commerce Department agency that helps small and medium-sized U.S. businesses sell their products and services globally. The Midland U.S. Export Assistance Center is part of the agency's worldwide network, which includes 107 U.S. Export Assistance Centers throughout the United States and more than 150 international offices.

For more information on the U.S. Commercial Service, please visit www.export.gov or call the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Midland at (432) 552-2490.