The U.S. Small Business Administration is partnering with the West Virginia Development Office International Division, the U.S. Export Assistance Center, the West Virginia District Export Council, and the West Virginia Women’s Business Center to provide expert information on export assistance programs. The program, scheduled for Beckley on Sept. 12 and Charleston Sept. 13, is intended for lenders and small businesses interested in learning how to leverage SBA and other available programs designed to increase export sales.
“Exporting is an excellent tool entrepreneurs can utilize to expand and grow their business,” said SBA West Virginia Director Judy McCauley. “It really isn’t difficult to do business in a foreign country. The SBA, US Export Assistance Center and the West Virginia Development Office have numerous programs designed to help business owners expand outside our borders.”
SBA International Trade Specialist Bill Houck, SBA Charleston Branch Manager Emma Wilson, US Export Assistance Center Manager Leslie Drake and WVDO International Trade Specialist Debra Martin will present overviews on special financing programs such as Export Express, Export Working Capital and the International Trade Loan during the two hour events.
Export Express can be used to finance inventory, accounts receivable and any export development activity and provides a 90 percent SBA loan guarantee up to $350,000. The Export Working Capital Program can provide financing up to $5 million in working capital and the International Trade Loan offers long term financing.
The Beckley program will be held Sept. 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the WV Women’s Business Center located at 602 New River Town Center. The Charleston program will be held Sept. 13 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Charleston Area Alliance located at 1116 Smith Street. Bankers, small business owners, exporters and anyone interested in learning more about export financing are welcome to attend these free events.
For more information, contact Leslie Drake at 304-347-5123 or leslie.drake@trade.gov.
For more on SBA’s programs and services, visit www.sba.gov/wv or contact the West Virginia District Office at (304) 623-5631 (email: wvinfo@sba.gov).
