Resources to Grow Your Export Business
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The document outlines various state and federal programs available to assist U.S. manufacturers in expanding their export businesses amid shifting global manufacturing costs. With U.S. exports at a 50-year high, resources like Columbus 2020 and the Ohio Department of Development offer support in areas such as market research, financing, and export readiness. It emphasizes the importance of capitalizing on current market conditions and provides contact information for further assistance.
Resources to Grow Your Export Business
- 1. 1 State and Federal Programs to Help You Get Ahead Resources to GrowYour Export Business 01
- 2. 2 n The gap between labor costs in the U.S. and overseas is shrinking. Pay and benefits for the average Chinese worker rose by 10% a year between 2000 and 2005 and sped up to 19% a year between 2005 and 2010. n Domestic energy costs are falling, while costs overseas remain high. Natural gas costs three times more in China, France, and Germany than in the U.S. The U.S. will continue to have an energy-cost advantage over other countries. It will take between five to ten years to create infrastructure to export a significant amount of U.S. natural gas. Global manufacturing cost competitiveness has shifted over the past decade. Due to these and other conditions, exports from the U.S. are at the highest point in 50 years and are expected to go higher. The time is ripe for American manufacturers of all sizes to consider creating or expanding their export business. Due to these and other conditions, exports from the U.S. are at the highest point in 50 years.
- 3. 3 PolymerOhio and OH!Manufacturing can connect you with the right resources to help you get your initiatives off the ground. As a starting point, we’ve put together this e-guide. It highlights a number of state and federal programs that can help you through every step of the development and execution of your export strategy. Get into the game. We’ll show you how.
- 4. 4 Columbus 2020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 5 OH! Manufacturing/Manufacturing Extension Parnership (MEP).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 6 Ohio Department of Development.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 7 International Trade Assistance Centers (ITAC).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 8 Exportech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 9 U.S. Export Assistance Centers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 10 U.S. Commercial Service (USCS).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 11 Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 12 U.S. Export Controls - US Department of State.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 13 Export.gov. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 14 Resources at a Glance
- 5. 5 Columbus 2020 conducts business outreach to existing companies, promotes the Columbus region to companies worldwide and conducts research to analyze the region’s levels of competitiveness. They also make economic development investments between public, private, and institutional entities. Columbus 2020 can help you build your export business by n Acting as a facilitator. n Providing consultation to see what your interests and goals are, including exploring new markets. n Helping you identify where you/your products fit best. n Triaging you to the right places and programs. Columbus 2020 Of special mention is Columbus 2020’s collaboration and support of the Columbus Global Connect: Metropolitan Export Initiative–a joint project of the Brookings Institute and JP Morgan Chase designed to help businesses expand into global markets. This is good news for businesses in the 11-county central Ohio region, as the Brookings Institute and JP Morgan Chase have stated publicly that they intend to help make the Columbus Region one of the top 25 metropolitan areas for goods and services by 2020. To achieve this goal, they will: assist local companies to expand and grow, attract new exporters to the region, increase awareness of global market opportunities and work to remove barriers to success for exporters. For more information, please visit columbusregion.com/ Columbus2020.aspx. 1 http://columbusregion.com/Columbus/media/Columbus/Press%20Releases/2014/Columbus-Region-Unveils-Assessment,-Plan-of-Action-for-Increasing-Exports.pdf1
- 6. 6 OH!Manufacturing (a subsidiary of PolymerOhio) is the central Ohio affiliate of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program. MEP is a nationwide network of 60 centers that work with small- and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers to help them grow and prosper through innovation and efficiency strategies that put manufacturers in a position to expand into new markets and create new products. OH!Manufacturing helps manufacturers in Central Ohio grow and become more profitable by improving how they develop, commercialize, manufacture, and distribute innovative products— domestically and internationally. OH!Manufacturing/Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) OH!Manufacturing can help you n Understand which countries provide the best business opportunity for your exports; n Understand and mitigate risks associated with credit, foreign currency, IP protection, and logistics; n Moderate seasonal production and extend product life cycles; n Capitalize on competitive advantage of sustained lower energy prices; and n Develop relationships with international shipping firms. For more information, please visit: www.excellenceinmanufacturing.org.
- 7. 7 Recognizing that exporting helps companies create jobs, diversify their business, and become more stable during changes in the U.S. economy, the Ohio Department of Development offers international trade and export assistance to small- and medium-sized companies. Their export assistance program can help businesses looking to start or increase exporting by providing n A list of exporting opportunities by industry, n Export counseling and education, n Market research assistance, n Help connecting to new markets and customers, n Financing growth and insuring receivables, and n Help hiring export interns. For more information, please visit development.ohio.gov/bs/bs_globalohio.htm. Ohio Department of Development
- 8. 8 ITAC connects Ohioans with international markets, which helps them attract and flourish with foreign business opportunities. Free- to low-cost methods that ITAC can provide to help grow your export business include International Trade Assistance Centers (ITAC) n Cultural and language assistance, n Custom market research, n Due diligence, n Export education, n Export readiness assessments, n Financial assistance, n Identifying local marketing tools, n International partner searches, n Local product requirements, and n Trade missions. For more information, please visit development.ohio.gov/bs/bs_itac.htm.
- 9. 9 Exportech is a joint program offered by MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership) and the U.S. Commercial Service (the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration) and is deployed by local MEP Centers, U.S. Export Assistance centers, and other regional partners. Exportech combines group sessions customized to meet the needs of participants with individualized consultation and guidance. These meetings help organizations expand their global market capabilities by creating a targeted export strategy that covers everything from development to execution. Exportech Each program is limited to between six and eight companies to ensure that sufficient focus will be applied to each attendee’s needs. Participating companies meet for three one-day sessions throughout a three-month period. In between meetings, they develop export plans with the help of a coach. At the culmination of the program a panel of experienced international businesspeople offers feedback on each participating company’s export growth plan. For more information, please contact OH!Manufacturing at 614-776-5265.
- 10. 10 U.S. Export Assistance Centers n Financing through loans and grants, n Counseling, n Mentoring, n Training, n International sales and marketing, n International logistics, n Compliance resources, and n Health care information. Of particular note is a Working Capital Program designed to provide loans to fund export transactions up to $5 million. Whether starting or expanding your exporting business, the SBA and U.S. Department of Commerce can help. Initial consultation and services are free. However,“Gold Key”services through the U.S. Department of Commerce, which involve‘on the ground’help overseas do cost money. For more information, please visit http://www.sba.gov/content/us-exports-assistance-centers. There are 109 U.S. Export Assistance Centers in major metropolitan areas across America with four serving Ohio (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton). Each center provides valuable assistance by connecting businesses with professionals from the Small Business Administration (SBA), the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, and other public and private organizations. Their mission is to serve as a one-stop shop that provides export assistance to small to medium-sized businesses. For businesses looking to go global, U.S. Export Assistance Centers can be a valuable resource for
- 11. The U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) is the trade promotion agency of the federal government. USCS has a network of offices not only across the United States, but also in more than 70 countries worldwide housed in the commercial section of those U.S. Embassies and Consulates. The mission of USCS is to promote U.S. commercial interests globally with a focus on small and medium-sized companies. USCS programs and services include, but are not limited to: n Counseling and mentoring companies who are either new-to-export or experienced exporters n International market research by country and industry n Advice on trade shows, both domestic and overseas, and trade missions n Strategic partner searches (agents, distributors, joint venture partners, etc.) U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) n How to market and sell your products and services internationally n Export documentation and logistics assistance n Advice on export licensing and foreign regulations n Trade data and analysis n Advice on trade dispute resolution n Local and regional export training events Approximately 15 of the USCS domestic offices also have trade professionals from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Import-Export Bank of the United States in-house to counsel exporters on the availability of international trade finance assistance and programs available from these federal government agencies. These offices are often called U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEAC). For more information, or to find your nearest USCS or USEAC office, please visit: www.export.gov. 11
- 12. 12 The Export-Import Bank seeks to create and sustain U.S. jobs by offering loans, working capital guarantees, and export credit insurance programs to American export firms of all sizes. The bank functions as a tool for international sales that can help American companies obtain financing in regions they have no or few existing connections. Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) The bank can make it cheaper and easier to conduct export business by offering n Free export training, n U.S. government guarantees on receivables, n Financial and credit programs, n Insurance that helps offset losses incurred if foreign partners fail to pay, n Counters to foreign subsidies, n Ways for you to not require customers to pay in advance, and n Services at a better rate than private-sector options. For more information, please visit www.exim.gov.
- 13. 13 This resource is included in this guide simply because it a good place to go for further resources. The U.S. Export Controls page contains a list of U.S. Export Administration Regulations, as well as links to resources provided by these other federal organizations: n U.S. Dept. of Energy n U.S. Dept. of Defense n U.S. Dept. of Treasury n U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security n U.S. Dept. of Commerce n U.S. Dept. of State For more information, please visit www.state.gov/strategictrade/resources/c43182.htm#. U.S. Export Controls – U.S. Department of State
- 14. 14 This federally sponsored resource helps small- to medium-sized U.S. manufacturers through strategic partnerships with large corporations with a wealth of experience and knowledge in export sales. Export.gov is managed by the International Trade Administration. The site includes a great deal of current information, sorted by industry, designed to help you obtain what you need to successfully compete in overseas markets, including market research, planning market entry, and more. Users can also access government reports and success stories from past partners to help guide and develop their export plans. Export.gov Examples include n Using searchable database to find country commercial guides, industry overviews, and regional reports. n Staying informed about upcoming trade events where international buyers and distributors meet. n Obtaining trade leads from resources in Embassies and Consulates that are looking out for U.S. exporters. n Accessing international sales, marketing, logistics and finance help. n Getting guidance on licensing and regulations in foreign countries. n Identifying new opportunities with trade data and analysis. n Solving trade problems. For more information, please visit www.export.gov.
- 15. 15 The phrase “strike while the iron is hot”has its roots in manufacturing, and the logic behind it remains clear today. Exporting is hotter than it’s been in a half century. Now is the time to expand or start your export operations. Fortunately, there are many resources out there to help your business run more efficiently and profitably and, OH!Manufacturing can help. Many manufacturers need a helping hand to navigate these resources, and our organization provides that. Conclusion Let us guide you to the appropriate resources and programs. If you’re interested in learning what’s out there that your business might be missing out on, call Gary Walzer at (614) 776-5720 or email gwalzer@polymerohio.org. We’ll leave no stone unturned as we focus on determining how to best assist you. Further information is also available at: www.excellenceinmanufacturing.org and www.polymerohio.org. 155 Commerce Park Drive Suite 8 n Westerville OH 43082 n USA Phone: 614-776-5265 n www.excellenceinmanufacturing.org