Aurora Business, Spectrum Technologies, Receives Metro Chicago Exports Grant

Spectrum Technologies, located in Aurora, offers affordable weather and plant measurement tools to help professionals use objective data to make better decisions regarding plant, crop, and turf inputs. The mission of Spectrum Technologies is to serve as a valued partner of customers’ research and production teams by helping turn plant measurement data into information for profitable decision-making.

Although the focus of the company was originally the North American market, the company is now very much an international business.

David Lau, Director of Asia and Business Development, says over 50% of the company’s business is from outside the United States and Canada.

“We are taking steps to better serve the international markets every day,” he added. “We currently serve over 75 countries on six continents and expect to continue growing.”

In addition to being named on the Inc. 5000, over 20 Spectrum products have been named AE50 award winners by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.

Metro Chicago Exports Grant Program

The goal of the Metro Chicago Exports Grant Program is to help small-to-medium sized enterprises grow in international trade, specifically through export initiatives. The $225,000 program, funded by JPMorgan Chase, awarded grants up to $5,000 to businesses throughout Illinois.

Currently, there are three waves of funding available to businesses in DuPage County through the MCE program. Spectrum Technologies, along with one other DuPage County business were awarded their grant in Wave 1. There were seven grants awarded to DuPage County businesses in Wave 2 and the application period for Wave 3 will be opening in January 2016.

MCE grant program dollars can be used for many types of business services, including but not limited to: Business Management, Tax and Legal help, Supply Chain Analysis, Budgeting, Export Counseling and Planning, Executive Training, website and marketing campaign development and International Tradeshows.

Spectrum Technologies first learned about the grant online. They plan to use grant money towards attending Agritechnica, the world’s largest trade fair for agricultural machinery and equipment in Germany.

“Our objective is to have a more significant presence,” Lau said. We hope to build relationships, gain customers and meet new partners.”

To learn more about Spectrum Technologies, visit their website.