Gaining Customers & Profit in Trade

The Washington Export Outreach Team - Export 101: From Your Door to the World Seminar event is unique as it walks companies through the exporting process.

It introduces the Local, State and Federal resources to assist them with this process.  These resources can help companies in all stages of the export business continuum including New to Business (NTBs), New-To Export (NTEs), New-To-Market (NTMs), and Expanding Market (EMs) companies.  The companies will also have the opportunity for one-on-one networking with the Local, State and Federal resources at the end of the event.     

What: Export 101: From Your Door to the World Seminar

When: Thursday, August 7, 2014 – From: 8:30 am – To: 5:00 pm
Where: The Rainier Room at the Truitt Building, 102 West Main St. Auburn, WA 98001

Cost: $75.00 per person

Materials and lunch will be provided

Register here as Space is limited.

Individual counseling sessions are available. Contact Zara Castillo for more details

Did you know 95% of potential customers live outside of the U.S.? It’s time to learn how to connect with them.

Attend the Export 101: From Your Door to the World, to access local resources to help your small business expand globally at this full day seminar covering:

Presented by the Washington Export Outreach Team (WEOT): Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington (EFACW), Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Export Readiness Center, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Washington State Department of Agriculture, and Washington State Department of Commerce.

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. will be providing a logistics presentation.

The workshop will feature presentations on the following topics:

•  Developing an export business plan

•  Determining appropriate international markets

•  Finding qualified buyers, agents, and distributors

•  Determining pricing and methods of payment

•  Mitigating non-payment risks and financing export transactions

•  Shipping your product overseas

(Click on Image for a Larger & Complete View): 

Export Help for Ag and Food Producers

SBA Has New Website Services

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) unveiled a new website, featuring a handy personalization tool that allows users to receive customized information for their small businesses.

The tool, called SBA Direct, generates business-specific information on several factors including business type and geography.

Visit, try it out, let us know what you think of it.

Congress Eyes S.B. Financing

Elizabeth Stevens, VP & Senior Loan Officer, NW Business Development Association wrote to update us on the status of several aspects of federally-supported small business financing.

She said "All eyes are on Congress this week to see if critical business legislation is passed by this Thursday before Congress takes its August break (8/9-9/10)."

Originally the extension of SBA loan fee waivers were also included in HR 4213; its primary purpose was extending unemployment benefits.  But it was stripped from that legislation at the last minute.

"HR 5297," she said, "the small business lending fund bill, was amended on Thursday with SA 4500 (co-sponsors include our two Senators). On Thursday, Senate invoked cloture on SA 4500 to move this to the floor for a vote. All hopes are that Senate will vote on Tuesday, tomorrow. If passed by the Senate, this amended version goes back to the House, which has already approved this legislation. If the House approves, this goes for final signature by the President."

This legislation includes:

• The increase on the SBA 7A guarantee to 90% through 12/31/10.
• The maximum loan amounts under the 504 program to $5,000,000 and $5,500,000. This is an increase from $1,500,000 and $2,000,000.
• Extension of the ARRA temporary fee waiver to 12/31/10.
• Allowing straight refinance under the SBA 504 program not linked to any expansion.
• Extension of the SBA Secondary Market ending date

ARC Sparks Cash

Just this week, the SBA has begun a loan program to give viable small businesses some temporary cash flow relief.

Called the ARC (America’s Recovery Capital) loan program, a deferred-payment loan of up to $35,000 made by commercial lenders, not SBA but fully guaranteed by SBA.

ARC loans are to be used for principal and interest payments on existing, qualifying loans including mortgages, term and revolving lines of credit, capital leases, credit card obligations and notes payable to vendors, suppliers and utilities. 100% guaranteed by the SBA, there are no SBA or lenders fees. There are no interest charges.

There is a disbursement period of up to six months, followed by 12 months with no repayment of the ARC loan principal. Afterwards, the borrower pays back only the ARC loan principal over five years.

This program was funded by Congress for $255 million. It will only last until all funds are loaned or September 30, 2009, whichever occurs first. See your local bank or these:

Local bank coordinators:

• Key, Jennifer Riggenbacher
• Wells Fargo, Taralee Muhli
• Heritage, Lyn Hamilton
• Columbia, Craig Chance
• US Bank, Eric Allison
• Northwest Commercial, Jay Mayer
• Washington Business Bank, Janie Sacco
• Sterling, Mike Miller
• Twinstar CU, Jim Minder
• Shorebank Enterprise Cascadia, Che Wong
  

If you need assistance in preparing documents, call Sheree Clark or 253-798-6916 at Pierce County Economic Development Department.