Educational Resources

Description: Develop an export business plan to expand your business abroad. To help you do this, the SBA and the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) offer customized counseling, technical assistance, and training. This network has expertise in both business counseling and trade. 

SBA also offers you a free interactive Export Business Planner.  You can customize this  document to suit your needs. The Planner helps you identify target markets, understand financial options, and calculate sales forecasts.  Together, you and an SBDC counselor can use the Planner to build your Export Business and Marketing Plan.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 2pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until May 17, 2013.)

Description: Explore the U.S. Census Bureau’s population and housing estimates and projections at the national, state and county levels of geography. You will survey what data are available, how they are produced, when they are released, and how to accessed them on the Web.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 2:30pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until May 20, 2013.)

Description: Attend this introduction to DataFerrett– an analytical and visualization tool that searches and retrieves data across federal datasets, and creates complex tabulations, business graphics and thematic maps. This webinar will demonstrate how to browse (search & discover) the datasets accessible via TheDataWeb; select variables from datasets; create new variables from existing ones (recode); produce customized analyses using tables, graphs, and maps, save your analysis, and more!

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 3:30pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until May 24, 2013.)

Description: Find out where your products can excel overseas. The Foreign Trade Division’s detailed and timely trade statistics provide you with information to find international markets for your product. Learn about the dynamic international trade tool USA Trade Online, which provides information on over 9,000 export commodities and 18,000 import commodities.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 2pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until June 4, 2013.)

Description: Ready to meet foreign buyers? The U.S. Commercial Service can help. They have over 1,400+ trade professionals in 109 domestic offices and 128 U.S. Embassies and Consulates to help you connect with high quality foreign buyers through customized trade counseling, business matchmaking, and market intelligence. You can also participate in trade events as a cost-effective, high-impact way to find new customers. Events include trade missions accompanied by foreign buyer delegations and major foreign trade shows.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 2pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until June 14, 2013.)

Description: Gain experience in using the American FactFinder data access tool. Learn how to use the search and navigation features to access some of the Census Bureau's programs, datasets and topics.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 3pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until June 17, 2013.)

Description: Learn about the Census Bureau's definition of a government, the organization and different types of state and local governments, and some of the employment and financial information that is collected and disseminated by the Census of Governments program. You will be encouraged to access related information in the Build-a-Table tool on census.gov.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 2:30pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until June 24, 2013.)

Description: Learn about services for the export of food or agricultural products. Take advantage of the FAS’s services, which include:

• Customized export assistance
• Cost-share export promotion funding
•  Trade show exhibit support
•  Training and trade missions

FAS collaborates with 75 groups in the industry, manages a toolkit of market development programs, and provides credit guarantee programs.  They also provide unique market intelligence on foreign market opportunities, online databases of foreign buyers, U.S. suppliers, and trade leads.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 2pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until July 12, 2013.)

Description: Are you ready to export? If you answered yes, the U.S. Government can teach you more about financing to get started. Working capital is available under a U.S. government-guaranteed loan program or as a direct loan up $500,000 to help fund any export development activity, including:

• Translating your product literature or website
• Participation in a foreign trade show or trade mission
• Foreign travel to meet potential business partners
• Funding your export orders

Guaranteed-loans for working capital up to $5 million also are available to fund your export transactions from receiving a purchase order through production to collections.

In addition, up to 20 foreign buyers can be approved for open account terms under a credit insurance policy that will reduce 95% of the risk of non-payment.  Approval can be done in as little as five business days, allowing you to offer more competitive open account terms.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 2pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until July 26, 2013.)

Description: For the established exporter, ongoing support is available through U.S. Government trade financing programs, including:

• Working capital up to $5 million
• Ability to establish one line of credit to support both domestic and international sales
• Funding to expand your production facility due to growing export sales
• Credit insurance to protect your accounts receivable worldwide
• Medium-term loan guarantees for your buyers on capital goods

Regardless of your financing need, the U.S. government is dedicated to providing a solution as it strives to encourage the growth of U.S. exports. 

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 2pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until August 9, 2013.)

Description: Gain experience in using the American FactFinder data access tool. Learn how to use the search and navigation features to access some of the Census Bureau's programs, datasets and topics.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 3pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until August 19, 2013.)

Description: Easily manage your export reporting by learning the do’s and don’ts of the Automated Export System (AES). Did you know that you must report information regarding export shipments valued at u export any over $2500 (or requiring a license) to the AES. Efficiently manage your export reporting by learning the features and tools of the AES.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 2pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until August 23, 2013.)

Description: Save time and money by learning the rules and responsibilities for all parties involved in an export transaction. You must follow the Foreign Trade Regulations before you export your goods from the US. Learn more to avoid common mistakes by making the right decisions regarding your export shipments from day one.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 2pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until September 6, 2013.)

Description: Gain experience in using the American FactFinder data access tool. Learn how to use the search and navigation features to access some of the Census Bureau's programs, datasets and topics.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 3pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until September 10, 2013.)

Description: An essential part of exporting is determining which U.S. export regulation applies to you. While a freight forwarder or delivery service can point you in the right direction, you are ultimately responsible. This is your opportunity to learn directly from the experts. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) regulates the export and re-export of commodities, software, and technology, commercial and military in nature. Learn more about dual use items, the Commerce Control List and licensing policies.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 2pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until September 20, 2013.)

Description: Need help resolving foreign trade barriers or unfair situations in foreign markets?  You can get help directly at the border with Foreign Service Officers of the Commerce, State, and Agriculture Departments. 

If you face persistent trade barrier, the Trade Agreements Compliance Program can quickly pull together teams of experts to work on the problem.  If you suspect unfair foreign competition on a foreign government procurement, the Advocacy Center can weigh in to help level the playing field.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 2pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until October 4, 2013.)

Description: Gain experience in using the American FactFinder data access tool. Learn how to use the search and navigation features to access some of the Census Bureau's programs, datasets and topics.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 3pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until November 8, 2013.)

Description: Gain experience in using the American FactFinder data access tool. Learn how to use the search and navigation features to access some of the Census Bureau's programs, datasets and topics.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm - 3pm ET
Register  (Registration is open until December 9, 2013.)