Season 6 Episode 42: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with three World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah) team members: Jonathan Freedman, president and CEO; Jared Anderson, senior director of global business services; and Anna Maidon, director of grants administration; and two Utah company representatives, Michael Gray, general manager of Intermountain Technologies, and Aaron Edwards, CEO of Mil Agro.

Freedman discusses Utah’s recent governor-led trade mission to South Korea and Japan. He details the mission’s key achievements, including a new nonstop Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Seoul to enhance connectivity for Utah businesses in East Asia. The delegation, comprising 47 business representatives, held 119 individual meetings, projecting nearly $77 million in new trade opportunities. The conversation also previewed upcoming trade missions to Canada and Australia in 2025, emphasizing their strategic alignment with Utah’s priority industries. 

Anderson and Gray highlighted Utah’s global trade initiatives and entrepreneurial culture. The conversation covered a recent WTC Utah-led business trip to Peru involving Utah mining companies and legislators, which fostered international connections with Peruvian leaders. Anderson and Gray detail the trip’s successes, including strategic partnerships, cultural exchanges, and new opportunities in Peru’s mining industry. 

Maidon and Edwards explore Utah’s involvement in the federal State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant, explaining the STEP grant’s role in assisting small businesses with global expansion by reimbursing costs for international trade shows, website development, and market analysis. The conversation highlights Utah’s success in securing a significant portion of STEP Grant funds, enabling local businesses to access resources for global market engagement. Companies interested in applying are encouraged to contact WTC Utah for personalized guidance.