Export Voucher Program for the Chamber members

A new export finance program from the Washington State Department of Commerce that can help members of the Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce grow their businesses overseas. 

The new program provides qualifying Washington companies up to $5,000 in export assistance. The funds, available through an Export Voucher, can be used to help pay for trade show fees and travel, interpreter fees and translation services, and other expenses. The initiative is designed to help small businesses reach new markets and increase sales through international trade.

The link below takes you directly to the Export Voucher Program main page, which includes the program application, guidelines and FAQs.

http://www.choosewashington.com/business/export/ExportVoucherProgram/Pages/default.aspx

For the Chamber members who may not be export-ready, there are other publicly funded opportunities to assist their growth, as described below:

Highline Community College

Online export training modules, including trade overviews, pricing, shipping and documentation, distribution, international duties and laws, and methods of payment. For more information or to register, contact:

Caryn Fosnaugh

Highline Community College – Center of Excellence

(206) 878-3710

http://waexports.com/education/export_modules

Washington Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

Export preparation through individual business plan advising, training workshops and research to help businesses implement and complete an export business plan. Individual advising provided completely free of charge. For more information, contact:

Terry Chambers

SBDC

(509) 358-7894

terry.chambers@wsbdc.org

http://export.wsbdc.org/

Western Washington University (WWU)

Export training and match-making services between export-ready businesses and prospective agents, importers and qualified businesses in British Columbia and abroad. For more details, contact:

Meg Greenfield

WWU – Center for Economic Vitality

Phone: (360) 733-4014

Email: meg.greenfield@wwu.edu