A $310,606 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce will fund an International Center for Water Technology (ICWT) program at California State University, Fresno. The three-year program will assist water technology manufacturers nationwide with exporting products to Chile and Mexico.

ICWT currently works with more than 200 U.S. companies who manufacture state-of-the-art water technology equipment that makes it possible to more efficiently manage, recycle, transport, distribute and conserve water and energy resources.

“As the world’s water and energy supplies become more precious, the demand for technologies improving their effectiveness are receiving an overwhelming increase in worldwide demand,” says Claude Laval III, founder/chairman of Claude Laval Corporation and co-chair of the ICWT.

“Many of our members have just begun exporting their products and this grant will help them hit the ground running to meet international need. This will be a boon to this growing industry and result in a dramatic increase in revenues and jobs in the immediate future.”

The grant funding will allow the ICWT to:

• Provide financial support to industry members, attending international shows
• Conduct export readiness seminars
• Create customized market research
• Provide one-on-one consulting to develop export plans
• Establish a water conservation demonstration site in Chile
• Host inbound trade missions from Chile and Mexico
• Promote ICWT program benefits at U.S. trade shows
• Develop and distribute a promotional DVD

The International Center for Water Technology is a public-private partnership dedicated to the development and application of advanced technologies that enhance water use for urban, environmental, and agricultural purposes. 

Fresno State, in collaboration with a consortium of members in the water technology industry, has formed the center. The center provides its members with a variety of services and resources including product testing, research, internships, conferences/forums, trade missions and seminars.

For more information, visit the ICWT Web site at www.icwt.net.