Tipton to Host Small Business Export 101 Event in Southern Colorado

Tipton to Host Small Business Export 101 Event in Southern Colorado

The most recent figures available show that around 4,459 companies export from Colorado annually. Of these 88% were small or medium-sized businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Further increasing Colorado exports will help create jobs and sustain thousands of Colorado businesses. House Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade Chairman Scott Tipton is hosting an Export 101 Event in effort to help Southern Colorado businesses increase their exports by providing information on how to export and also assisting with developing the necessary partnerships.

WHAT:
Most small businesses do not have the resources or knowledge to export and they rely heavily on the federal agencies to guide them through the process. Increased education, outreach and coordination are essential to get more small businesses to export, and increased exports translate into new jobs .

This export forum in Southern Colorado, featuring international trade experts from the federal government, aims to assist small businesses with export opportunities. This event will bring together trade specialists and potential small business exporters, which could lead to new export successes.

Congressman Tipton will moderate the panelist of speakers, who will consist of federal and local trade experts. The panelists will speak about the broad export procedure and explain the resources available to assist local businesses. Following the panelist remarks, businesses will be available to meet one-on-one with trade specialists to address specific questions.

WHO:
Congressman Tipton, two trade specialists from Colorado’s U.S. Export Assistance Center, a representative from the Governor’s office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Southern Colorado Small Business Development Center, the Pueblo Workforce Center, the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation, the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the Pueblo Community College Economic and Workforce Development Division, and many small businesses.

WHERE:
Pueblo County Conference Room, 1001 North Santa Fe Avenue, Pueblo, CO 81003

WHEN:
Friday February 24, 2012, 10am-noon