Export Promotion

I am a strong supporter of helping businesses in the Second Congressional District export their products to other countries and creating jobs here at home. Approximately one in three jobs in Washington state are tied to foreign exports, and the pay for these jobs is about 46% more than the overall state average. As your representative in Congress, I am committed to ensuring that government is doing what it can to help our small businesses expand and prosper.

Small Manufacturers Export Initiative

I recently introduced the Small Manufacturers Export Initiative to provide resources to build the infrastructure necessary to help American Small and Medium Sized Businesses with export opportunities around the world. The global market presents a fast and ever growing market for U.S. exports. Nearly 3.7 million manufacturing jobs are supported by exports – 27 percent of all jobs in the manufacturing sector. However, most U.S. small and medium sized manufacturers are dissuaded from or lack the confidence necessary to enter the global market place.  Financial roadblocks, conflicting information, Intellectual Property Rights infringements and cultural differences are creating unnecessary barriers for American companies.  The Small Manufacturers Export Initiative will build the infrastructure necessary to connect American Small and Medium Sized Businesses with export opportunities around the world and help them export their products – not their jobs.

This legislation will:

• Provide resources to the Department of Commerce to assist manufacturers in finding and developing new markets for their products.  These funds are projected to help create over 9,000 new jobs.
• Authorize funds to be used by the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership to expand the ExporTech program.  ExporTech helps manufacturing companies with the mechanics of exporting including shipping, documentation, financing, and the creation of a final business plan. The Department of Commerce projects the return on investment for the ExporTech program is approximately 100:1.

Local Export Program

The Small Manufacturers Export Initiative legislation will complement a local program I am introducing.

From talking with manufacturers in the community, I heard what tools and resources were needed to help them grow and export. The local export program is about connecting local small and medium sized businesses with the people and resources they need to export their goods overseas. This program includes the following initiatives:

1. Targeted Assistance Groups:
   Targeted Assistance Groups are small groups of companies that we bring together to meet with trade specialists from state and federal agencies. Members will be able to ask specific questions about their individual needs and concerns. Groups will be no larger than 5 members so they can receive immediate assistance and their work with agencies can start right away. Agencies will include: USCS, WA Export Finance Assistance, ExIm and WA Commerce.
2. District Export Experts:
   Our office will identify local business leaders with experience exporting that we can rely on to bounce various export promotion proposals off of. This will also be a group that we can ask to do peer-to-peer interactions with prospective, but unsure, exporters.  They will be a valuable resource for companies looking to expand their exports. Our office will work to pair the most appropriate export experts with prospective exporters.
3. Outreach Staff:
   Our office will have outreach staff who are experts in the various state and federal programs that are available to help these businesses export their goods overseas. Outreach staff will be a valuable resource for every initiative in this program.
4. Export Training:
   Our office will work with U.S. Commercial Services and private industry partners to conduct export training seminars for small business.

If your business is interested in connecting through this program, please call Adam LeMieux at 425.252.3188.