UPS and World Trade 100 magazine want to recognize one U.S.-based small- to medium-sized business (SMB) that is using exporting as a competitive advantage. Through the Growth through Global Trade award, we are searching for an innovative company that has grown its global presence and connected with customers around the world.

The winning company will receive a feature story in World Trade 100 magazine and a custom-made plaque. Anyone can submit a nomination by completing the online form and writing a 200-word essay about the company’s global growth.

With the President’s National Export Initiative – which aims to double exports over the next five years – more small businesses should consider reaching out to new markets. Currently, less than 1% of the nation’s 30 million businesses export, despite the fact that 95% of the world’s consumers live beyond U.S. borders. What’s more, with a sluggish economy at home, exporting is even more important.

That’s because many countries around the world are emerging from the recession more rapidly than the United States, and now is the time for SMBs to take advantage of this trend.

For instance, many Asian markets are on the rise. Singapore’s GDP grew by nearly 20% in the second quarter of this year and China overtook Japan as the world’s second largest economy. Canada is another major market that has experienced growth. In the first quarter of 2010, Canada expanded at its fastest pace in a decade.

We hope that by sharing the winning company’s exporting success story, we can inspire more companies to pursue opportunities overseas. Here are some of my favorite examples of small businesses growing beyond U.S. borders:

Smartphone Experts was founded in 2002 in Diana Broesler’s backyard. While most people store gardening equipment in their backyard sheds, Diana was storing cell phone covers, chargers and other accessories. Eventually the Florida-based company budded from a backyard business into a global growth engine. Today Smartphone Experts sells its products in countries all over the world, including France, Australia and the UK.

Mercedes Electric Supply, a Florida-based distributor of electrical equipment, was founded by Mercedes and Vic LaPorta in 1979. The couple grew the business across the state, and eventually across the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America. New contracts with Burger King and the U.S. government will guarantee further global growth to Canada and the Middle East.

I’m looking forward to hearing new stories about entrepreneurs braving new markets. Submit a nomination for the Growth through Global Trade award or view more details online.