Championing fair access to international markets and advocating for EXIM Bank reauthorization
The Southeastern Export Alliance (SEA) is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting fairness across all American export sectors. SEA amplifies the voice of Southeastern U.S. manufacturers in Washington and works with federal agencies to shape equitable trade policy. Through education, engagement, and advocacy, SEA strives to strengthen the region’s export economy and ensure its long-term competitiveness.
The Export-Import Bank’s current authorization expires on December 31, 2026. Without reauthorization, foreign buyers of American-made goods may lose access to essential financing. SEA is leading efforts to secure Congressional support and expand the China Transformational Export Program to benefit all manufacturing sectors.
SEA works with the U.S. Trade Representative and Congress to ensure Southeastern manufacturers are not unfairly impacted by tariff policies. We advocate for a balanced trade environment that supports supply chains and opposes policies that create arbitrary winners and losers.
SEA supports trade and tax policies that open global markets to Southeastern producers and encourage investment in the region’s manufacturing base.
SEA partners with state trade offices to help craft legislation and programs that foster export growth and economic development across the Southeast.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has approved a $185 million direct loan to support the expansion of CesiumAstro Inc., a Texas-based manufacturer specializing in satellite payloads and secure communications technology. The project will fund the purchase of an existing facility, building improvements, and new equipment, and is expected to create approximately 400 high-quality American jobs.
This investment marks the ninth project approved under EXIM’s Make More in America Initiative, which aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing and secure critical supply chains. The expansion underscores EXIM’s role in supporting advanced industries, reinforcing U.S. competitiveness in space and defense manufacturing, and ensuring key technologies are built and scaled in the United States.
Read the full article https://exim.gov/news/fueling-future-exim-loan-boost-space-manufacturing-and-create-400-american-jobs
EXIM advanced America’s critical mineral supply chain security by approving a $670 million Letter of Interest for Graphite One Inc. (G1) to support financing of the Company’s Graphite Creek Project near Nome, Alaska, along with a separate $1.4 billion Letter of Interest for G1’s planned advanced graphite materials manufacturing facility in northeastern Ohio—increasing production capacity while bringing back skilled manufacturing jobs.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On December 12th, President Donald Trump welcomed John Jovanovic to the Oval Office for his ceremonial swearing-in. Joined by his wife and four children, Chairman Jovanovic took the oath of office administered by Vice President JD Vance.
“I would like to thank President Trump for his passionate commitment to working class Americans and his unwavering devotion to America’s reindustrialization,” said Chairman Jovanovic. “I will work to fulfill President Trump’s commitment to revitalizing America’s economy – helping companies large and small compete and win everywhere around the world. I am grateful for the opportunity to support him in this mission; it is an honor of a lifetime.”
The Oval Office event served as a formal recognition of his appointment and highlighted the administration’s commitment to EXIM and revitalizing America’s economy by helping create and support the jobs of the future across the United States – especially the small businesses in our communities most in need.
President Trump and senior officials attended the ceremony, underscoring the importance of Jovanovic’s role in ensuring that future generations of Americans live in times of freedom, economic security, and U.S.-led innovation.
Chairman Jovanovic joined President Trump and senior U.S. officials for the signing of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Rwanda—a significant step toward ending decades of conflict and strengthening economic cooperation across the Great Lakes region.
Under the Chairman’s first Board action, EXIM approved a direct loan to Pennsylvania-based 6K Additive LLC for an expansion project in Burgettstown, PA, supporting more than 50 American jobs. The $27 million financing funds construction of four new buildings and procurement of advanced equipment to refine titanium, nickel, and alloy powders. This latest approval under EXIM’s Make More in America initiative strengthens U.S. manufacturing and secures critical mineral supply chains, marking the first transaction executed in coordination with the Department of War’s Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III program.
Chairman Jovanovic joined the U.S. Presidential Delegation at the historic inauguration of Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, reaffirming America’s commitment to deepening economic ties. The Chairman emphasized America’s readiness to collaborate on strengthening both economies, enhancing energy dominance, supporting good-paying American jobs, and promoting shared regional prosperity.
EXIM and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed a “Buy American, Build the Future” agreement, establishing a framework that expands economic cooperation and advances President Trump’s America First Agenda. The agreement positions the U.S. as Uzbekistan’s partner of choice in critical sectors and signals Uzbekistan’s commitment to adopting American technology that supports jobs, supply chain resilience, and industrial modernization.
Washington, D.C. – The Export-Import of the United States (EXIM) has approved a direct loan to CesiumAstro Inc. in support of an expansion project that will generate approximately 400 good-paying American jobs. The $185 million financing includes the purchase of an existing facility, building improvements and procurement of equipment.
The project is the latest approval under EXIM’s Make More in America Initiative (MMIA), designed to revitalize U.S. manufacturing and secure critical supply chains.
“This financing shows that American leadership in space and advanced manufacturing is accelerating at exactly the moment global competition is intensifying,” said EXIM Chairman John Jovanovic. “By supporting CesiumAstro’s expansion, EXIM is strengthening our nation’s industrial base, securing the technologies that underpin next‑generation communications, and ensuring these critical capabilities are built here in the United States. This action reflects President Trump’s commitment to revitalizing American manufacturing, enhancing supply chain security, and reinforcing U.S. competitiveness in transformational industries.”
The Austin, Texas-based small business is a domestic manufacturer specializing in producing satellite payloads and terminals for advanced and secure communication systems.
This is the ninth project approved under MMIA—an initiative driving the growth and security of critical domestic supply chains. This project demonstrates EXIM’s commitment to being a frontline economic tool to revitalize American industry, strengthen our supply chains, and ensure American workers and exporters can compete around the world.
“This investment marks a defining moment for CesiumAstro and for America’s space and defense industrial base,” said Shey Sabripour, Founder and CEO of CesiumAstro. “As a non-traditional defense contractor, we’re scaling domestic production at unprecedented speed, creating high-quality American jobs and proving that commercial innovation can deliver at national scale.”
“CesiumAstro’s investment in Texas helps further position our state as a global hub for the aerospace, aviation and defense industry,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “I congratulate CesiumAstro on this significant expansion in the Austin area which will create hundreds of new, high-tech jobs for hardworking Texans. Partnering with industry leaders like CesiumAstro, Texas will continue to set the pace for innovation, technology, and advanced manufacturing in America.”
“This transaction sets a new benchmark for how federal financing tools and private-sector capital can work together to reshore manufacturing, create American jobs and strengthen U.S. leadership in strategically vital industries. This investment directly aligns with the firm’s $1.5 trillion Security and Resiliency Initiative, which aims to facilitate, finance, and invest in industries critical to national economic security and resiliency,” said Liam Sargent, Head of Securitized Products Group and Tax Oriented Investments, J.P. Morgan.
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