Success Stories

In March 2025, Tennessee Craft Spirits (TCS) exhibited at the Prowein trade show in Dusseldorf, Germany with the support of a State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant from the Tennessee Export Initiative at Belmont University. ProWein is one of the world’s largest international trade fairs for wines and spirits. The STEP funding provided critical assistance that made Tennessee Craft Spirits’ presence at the show possible—covering booth costs and promotional materials that helped elevate their visibility among international buyers and distributors. TCS exhibited in the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) pavilion at the show.

The results were immediate and impactful. As a direct outcome of attending ProWein, Tennessee Craft Spirits secured and shipped its first multi-brand order into the European Union in September—a landmark achievement for the collective and a testament to the export potential of American craft spirits. The shipment to the Dutch importer included products from Ingram Distillery, Leiper’s Fork Distillery, and Southern Collective Spirit Co., all based in Tennessee. In November, TCS received a new order from its Dutch importer that included products from a fourth Tennessee producer, Company Distilling. Remarkably, these represent the first-ever exports from the United States for three of the four distilleries.

This success highlights the transformative role STEP funding plays in empowering small and mid-sized producers to compete internationally. By lowering barriers to entry and facilitating participation in world-class trade events, the program enables American companies to build relationships, test markets, and establish a global footprint. For Tennessee Craft Spirits, the grant not only generated tangible export sales but also validated the quality and appeal of Tennessee-made products on an international stage. Building on this momentum, the group plans to expand its European distribution network and continue representing the innovation and authenticity of America’s craft spirits abroad.

David Pick, TCS’s Owner and CEO commented: “Although international trading conditions have been challenging, they are being overcome by the strong and growing interest in premium, craft whiskeys from Tennessee. As a start-up, we were fortunate to gain support from the STEP grant; it was most timely and has enabled us to gain increasing sales with an ambitious importer who will be taking our products into Germany and Belgium early in 2026.”

In addition to meeting the Dutch importer, Pick also made connections during ProWein with importers from Australia, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

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With support from a STEP grant, EOD Gear, a U.S. manufacturer of specialized explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and breaching equipment based in Franklin, Tennessee, participated in the Countering Explosive Threats & Demining Conference held September 23–24, 2025, in London, England.

During the conference, EOD Gear engaged with military and humanitarian organizations from across the United States and allied nations to demonstrate its U.S.-manufactured EOD tools and breaching systems, explore export opportunities, and strengthen partnerships with global defense and demining communities. Overall, discussions at the conference identified potential international opportunities totaling approximately $9.35 million in annual revenue, significantly expanding EOD Gear’s export prospects and strengthening U.S. manufacturing in the defense and humanitarian sectors.

“Participation in this conference allowed us to demonstrate the strength of American manufacturing and build relationships with partners who rely on reliable, mission-ready equipment,” said Steve Cassidy of EOD Gear. “We are grateful to the SBA for supporting small businesses like ours in reaching international markets and strengthening partnerships that ultimately save lives.”

Following the conference, EOD Gear continued engagement with NATO partners through a visit to the NATO EOD Centre of Excellence and will maintain momentum through follow-up meetings with defense stakeholders at the Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C. The SBA grant played a critical role in enabling EOD Gear’s international participation, directly supporting U.S. exports, strengthening domestic manufacturing, and creating opportunities for future hiring, equipment investment, and expanded production capacity in Tennessee.

Riggins Rights Management, a publishing right organization for several Christian publishers, exhibited at the 2025 Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy, generating 129 international licensing review requests and new global publishing contacts across multiple countries, with potential to secure at least 50 licenses valued between $50,000 and $100,000. Through targeted marketing and on-site meetings, the firm strengthened existing relationships, expanded representation opportunities, and increased global exposure for its clients’ titles.