Bay Area businesses hope to expand global customer base in Brazil

TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - Brews, booze, and a bird's eye view in Brazil mean big business for the Bay Area.

"When you find a new consumer base in a market like that, you can grow your company exponentially,'" said Madison Lawson, the international business manager with the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation.

The EDC worked with the economic development leaders in Pinellas and Pasco counties to send 3 Daughters Brewing, American Freedom Distillery and six other businesses to Sao Paolo Monday as part of a program to help small businesses grow into international exports.

It's a chance many of the owners didn't have before to meet with distributors, consumers, and end buyers.

FLYMOTION will be among them. The Tampa-based company provides drones and other gadgets for public safety agencies in the Tampa area, Florida, and a few countries abroad.

"Our business in Latin America is early right now, but we are definitely looking to expand," said Ryan English, the Fly Motion CEO and co-founder.

Going to Brazil gives Fly Motion and others the chance to fly high with exports and invest back into the Bay Area with more jobs as they grow.

"We are having to look at a new facility. We are further putting money back into the economy by adding jobs, purchasing real estate, things of that nature," said English.

"I've seen companies, they'll meet some new distributor and they can attack that market and create a huge consumer base in that market," added Lawson.

The companies leave for Brazil Monday for a four-day trip.