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Rep. Napolitano Encourages Local Businesses to Go Global at Annual Export Seminar

October 23, 2014

(La Verne, CA) Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32) held a free export trade seminar with the University of La Verne and the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership at the University of La Verne Abraham Campus Center. More than 50 local business people attended for free expert guidance on how to increase international sales and expand their businesses into global markets.

"Welcome to the panelists and speakers, and thank you for your willingness to push forward an agenda to strengthen our region's economy through exports," Napolitano said. "There are many foreign countries that want high-quality, American-made products, but do not know they are available to them. Take advantage of the resources available to you today and network with your fellow business partners. We thank the University of La Verne for hosting today's event, and a special thanks to the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership for your continued interest in creating more jobs at home while helping businesses go global."

"You need to establish, first and foremost, whether you have the budget to do it because you will need to invest money to develop an export program," said Greg Moore, Regional Director of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, offering insights to aspiring exporters. "Start with one market and focus on the one that makes sense for your product line. Exporting can be a lot of fun, but you have to focus on how you are going to get paid. If you do these steps correctly, it shouldn't be any more risky than the domestic business you are already doing in the U.S."

"If you are a small business, start by going to https://www.export.gov/— it is the federal resource for any company to get information to position their product or service in the global market," said Richard M. Swanson, Jr., Network Director of the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. "This will create a customized package for your company to identify your top three overseas markets. There are a lot of foreign buyers who come to domestic trade shows in the U.S., so those are also wonderful opportunities to meet face to face, while getting your product out there."

John Price, VP Finance at Astrophysics, Inc. (City of Industry) said he would like to closer communication and a stronger network between local businesses and those in the exports industry.

"We need to spend more time networking with these people," said Price. "The connectivity that you can get through government entities and some of the private facilities and logistics people can extremely helpful. We have not spent enough time developing this network, but I hope we do going forward."

The panel discussions led by ten experts from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, the Center for International Trade Development, the Export-Import Bank of the United States and other organizations, focused on trade financing and resources as well as export logistics. Seminar attendees learned about available government resources and private capital, how to research different markets, and how to secure financing.

Resources for Further Information:

· Small Business Administration (SBA): 1-800-U-ASK-SBA - www.sba.gov/recovery

· International Trade Administration – www.export.gov

· SBA Los Angeles Office: (818) 552-3215 www.sba.gov/localresources/district/ca/la

· California Job Service: (562) 402-9336 - www.caljobs.ca.gov

· Small Business Opportunities with Dept. of Energy - management.energy.gov/business_DOE.htm

· Small Business Opportunities with Dept. of Labor - www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/osdbu


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