An international trade workshop in Hughson next week hopes to provide a boost to the local economy through providing resources to small business owners looking to export their products.
Hosted by Valley Sierra Small Business Development Center, “Understanding the Lucrative World of Exporting” will provide guests with resources on how to start or expand export sales, special loan programs, finding international customers, and IC-DISC tax incentives.
“Exports are important to the valley and certainly important in our county — ag exports in particular,” said Valley Sierra SBDC director Kurt Clark.
Valley Sierra SBDC is funded in part through a subcontract between Opportunity Stanislaus and the University of California, Merced under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Clark said that SBA has increasingly pushed exports as a priority, which is why Valley Sierra SBDC decided to host an international trade workshop.
“Our goal is to help increase the economy and provide information to local businesses about the potential benefits of exporting and the financial opportunities it can present,” said Clark. “A lot of businesses that succeed locally could consider exporting as a new way of generating revenue.”
Clark said that Wednesday’s workshop will present a great opportunity for area entrepreneurs, business owners, managers, CPAs, attorneys, bankers, educators to learn more about exporting.
“We are looking for business owners that are considering exporting or who are exporting that are considering expanding their exports,” said Clark. “We have experts bringing resources that could help companies expand into new international markets or to help a local business who is considering exporting understand what the first steps are.”
The workshop will feature a number of guest speakers, including Glen Roberts from the Department of Commerce, who will talk about U.S. Export Assistance Center resources that aid local exporters; Jeanette Benson from the Merced Center for International Trade Development, who will present “How to Get Started Exporting Your Products;” and Jeff Deiss from the Small Business Administration, who will provide an overview of SBA export funding. The workshop will also present a panel of experts from Rabobank, Grimbleby Coleman CPAs and Export-Import Bank of the United States.
“The goal is to educate business owners about the opportunities for exporting and to eventually support an increase in exporting out of our county,” said Clark. “We are trying to help improve the economy through increased exports. There are a lot of resources available locally to help guide people forward and answer questions when it comes to how to export and to make sure it is done safely and profitably.”
Sponsors for Wednesday’s international trade workshop include Grimbleby Coleman CPAs, Rabobank, International Trade Administration, Center for International Trade Development, City of Hughson, Export-Import Bank of the United States, UC Merced Small Business Development Center Regional Network, Opportunity Stanislaus, and Small Business Administration.
“Understanding the Lucrative World of Exporting: An International Trade Workshop” will take place from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday in Samaritan Village, 7700 Fox Road in Hughson. To register, visit tinyurl.com/intltradehughson. There is no cost to attend. For more information, call 422-6416 or visit ValleySierraSBDC.com.
