Courtney congratulates Gilman Brothers Company on President’s “E” Award for export success

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today congratulated Gilman-based Gilman Brothers Company on earning the President's "E" Award for export success. A leading manufacturer of foamboard products, Gilman Brothers has won assistance from the U.S. Export Import Bank to expand their export sales abroad, and they traveled to Israel with Congressman Courtney as part of a 2010 trade mission designed to open international markets to eastern Connecticut businesses.

"This is a tremendous, prestigious honor for the team at Gilman Brothers, and it places them at the very top of the field in exports, nationally," said Congressman Courtney. "Gilman Brothers arrived there through hard work and persistence—attributes I saw firsthand when visiting with their workers in Gilman and during our trade mission to Israel. The blueprint they created is one that can be followed by small businesses across this country; by opening markets abroad, we can fuel job creation at home."

The President's "E" Award was created by Executive Order of the President on December 5, 1961 to recognize persons, firms, or organizations which contribute significantly in the effort to increase United States exports. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank presented Gilman Brothers with the "E" Award this morning at a ceremony honoring 57 companies.

(From left) Congressman Courtney presented Phil Gray, global sales manager at Gilman Brothers, and Cyrus Gilman, owner of Gilman Brothers, with a Congressional Record statement congratulating the company on earning the President's "E" Award.