Small Sioux City business honored as 2024 Exporter of the Year

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - The U.S Small Business Administration has announced the selection of Rocklin Manufacturing, of Sioux City, as the 2024 Iowa Small Business Exporter of the Year.

Established in 1934, by its founder I.J Rocklin, the small company is a third-generation family business. The administration says the business manufactures and distributes portable electronic equipment which includes carbide application equipment to minimize wear and maximize grip. The company also distributes micro welders to repair molds and dies and dot peen and laser marketing equipment to optimize equipment traceability.

“The SBA is proud to honor a family-owned manufacturer such as Rocklin Manufacturing for its exporting success,” said Jayne Armstrong, Director of the SBA Iowa District Office. “Its American-made products are putting Iowa manufacturing on the map worldwide.”

The business is under the leadership of President Ross Rocklin.

Exporting has been an essential aspect of Rocklin’s growth and sustainability for over 60 years. The administration says approximately one-third of the business does sales internationally in countries such as Canada, Argentina and many more.

To help the business increase its export sales, Rocklin has utilized the SBA’s State Trade and Export Promotions (STEP) Grant Initiative. The STEP Program is provided by the Iowa Economic Development organizations and funded by the Small Business Association. The program offers financial assistance to support specific marketing efforts to increase the number of small business exporters in Iowa and the number of products and services they export.

In addition to the STEP Grant funding, Rocklin has also used financing from the Small Business Association to renovate the business’s historic building. The assistance through SBA helped Rocklin construct an updated manufacturing operation within a building that supported both world wars.

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