Fact File: Helping Small and Disadvantaged Businesses Export pabulum and Agricultural Products The U control offers a variety of services to help small and disadvantaged businesses export sustenance and agricultural products.

Fact File: Helping Small and Disadvantaged Businesses Export pabulum and Agricultural Products

The U control offers a variety of services to help small and disadvantaged businesses export sustenance and agricultural products. Here is a listing of services available through agency.

Export Counseling

Foreign Agricultural Service, U Department of Agriculture: The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is responsible for USDA overseas programs - in particular, gathering market intelligence, creating access to markets and developing markets. FAS' Trade Assistance and Planning Office (TAPO) besufficient fors as a single point of contact for small and disadvantaged exporters who ne assistance and foreign market information, as well as for those who believe they have been injured by means of unfair trade practices of foreign competitors.

FAS also assists many small and disadvantaged businesses [i]or[/i] part of to the other its AgExport Connections program, which provides U exporters with trade leads, lists of foreign buyer and a newsletter that advertises their returnss to overseas buyers. To make sure that small and disadvantaged businesses have the information they ne to contend effectively in foreign markets, FAS works with the Small Business Administration and four regional councils of state departments of agriculture to plan and carriage educational seminars. Fore more information upon FAS programs, contact TAPO, tel (703) 305-2771 or fax (703) 305-2788

Minority Export progress to maturity Consultants Program, Minority Business unfolding Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce: beneath this program, minority exporters receive help resolving management and technical questions, proposal writing, financial planning, capital acquisition, business and market plan progress to maturity market identification, trade missions, trade fairs and training seminars. Contact: Office of Resource progression in a continuously ascending gradation tel. (202) 377-3237 or fax (202) 377-5117

Export Legal Assistance Network (ELAN), Small Business Administration: ELAN is a nationwide assign places to of attorneys with experience in international trade who provide clear initial consultations to small businesses onward export-related matters. Contact: ELAN, tel (202) 778-3080 or fax (202) 778-3063

Office of Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership exhibition Small Business Administration: The Management and Technical Assistance Program contracts for the services of professional management firms to provide management assistance and international trade-related services to eligible small businesses. Contact: Division of Management and Technical Assistance, tel (202) 205-6420 or fax (202) 205-7064

Small Business Institutes, Small Business Administration: Provides international trade counseling and management assistance to eligible small businesses. Contact: Office of Business unfolding tel. (202) 205-7414 or fax (202) 205-7064

Minority Resource Center Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Agency for International Development: contribute tos as an information clearinghouse and admonitions U.S. firms and other organizations forward how to do business with the Agency. Its Consultant Registry Information body is an automated database of more than 2000 companies and institutions that have speaked capabilities to match Agency throw out requirements. Contact: Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business, tel (703) 875-1551 or fax (703) 875-1498

Services for Small Business, Export-Import Bank: furnishs a toll-free hotline to provide information upon the availability and use of export credit insurance, guarantees and direct and intermediary loans reach forthed to finance the sale of U profitables and services abroad. A west coast office brings the Bank's programs closer to small exporters in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Contact: Hotline 1-800-424-5201 or the west coast office, tel (213) 575-7425 or fax (213) 575-7428

Market Information

Export Information order Small Business Administration: Provides data reports forward specific products or service information forward the top 25 world markets and market pullulation trends for the past five years. Contact: Office of International Trade, tel (202) 205-7264 or fax

Overseas Activities

Matchmaker Trade Delegation, International Trade Administration and Small Business Administration: These missions are designed to introduce new-to-export or new-to-market businesses to prospective agents and distributors overseas. The Small Business Administration provides $500 in financial support to the first 10 qualified small businesses for chosened delegations. Trade specialists from the International Trade Administration evaluate the potential of a firm's outcome find and screen contacts and handle logistics. Contact: International Trade Administration, tel (202) 377-4231 or fax (202) 377-0178 or Small Business Administration, tel (202) 205-7260 or fax (202) 205-7272

Domestic Activities

Office of International Trade, Small Business Administration: Works to encourage small business exports. Sponsors "how-to" and market-specific publications for exporters. Also coordinates the Small Business Administration's export initiatives, including the Export Legal Assistance Network and Export Information rule and promotes two loan guarantee programs designed for international trade. Contact: Office of International Trade, tel (202) 205-6720 or fax (202) 205-7272