CLC hosts federal, state trade delegation for exporter round table
The Illinois Small Business Development and International Trade Center at College of Lake County hosted a federal and state trade delegation national pilot program, the "Illinois Listening Tour" May 23.
"The event was designed to engage our small business community in a dialogue on international trade," said Frank Brisbois, the center's director. "It was a great success, with business owners discussing export policy trade issues they faced and how the federal and state stakeholders could best assist in their export success. They discussed policy issues and best practices, and each indicated they intended to increase their exports with the assistance of local, state and national trade programs."
The tour was held in recognition of World Trade Month, and CLC coordinated the event with the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of International Trade, the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) Secretariat, the Illinois Office of Trade and Investment and the National Association of Exporters.
"Participants from the medical, logistics, transportation, manufacturing and foods industries discussed key international trade issues and connected to federal and/or state resources that can assist them. As a follow-up, the trade delegation will summarize the group's issues and challenges to help policy decision making and create innovative export programming to support small to medium sized businesses," Brisbois said.
The trade delegation included Steve Sullivan and Dennis Foldenauer, senior international trade finance specialists, SBA; Prianka Sharma, assistant chief council, SBA Office of Advocacy; Ivana Bochenska, senior international trade specialist, Illinois Office of Trade and Investment; Dan Kim, international trade specialist, US Export Assistance Center; Douglas Smith, assistant director of the international trade center, San Antonio, Tex.; and Nicole Massey-Pratt, international trade specialist, College of Lake County SBDC International Trade Center.
For information on how your business can receive complimentary assistance with international trade matters, visit www.clcillinois.edu/sbdc-itc or contact the office at IllinoisSBDC@clcillinois.edu or (847) 543-2033.