Go to there: Illinois Export Week

Not everyone can be Art Vandelay, but your small business can still benefit from exporting. The SBA, the Illinois governor and IIT think so, too.

Earlier this week, the SBA added The Export Business Planner,which includes resources for owners looking to expand sales of their goods and services overseas. It includes information on financing options and counseling opportunities, video profiles, training podcasts, trade statistics and a list of current SBA lenders. 
 
As further proof that exporting is rising in the small biz arena, back in May, the Wall Street Journal reported that more small businesses were looking for export financing.  Also, earlier this year, President Obama suggested raising annual export financing for smaller firms through the Export-Import Bank to $6 billion from $4 billion. It’s part of a White House plan to double exports over the next five years.
 
And to celebrate this, next week is Illinois Export Week. The Illinois Export Week Conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, at Illinois Institute of Technology’s Hermann Hall Conference Center at 3241 S. Federal Street. The event is free, but advance registration is required. 
 
Breakfast and lunch are included, but for more incentive to attend, think about this: Illinois ranks as the 6th largest exporting state in the US and #1 in the Midwest. In 2010, Illinois exports totaled more than $49.77 billion. In the first quarter of 2011, Illinois exported more than $14.74 billion worth of non agriculture goods - an increase of 30.43% compared to the same period in 2010. Today, approximately 539,300 Illinois jobs are supported by exports.
 
Even if you're not a purveyor of fine latex products, you will likely get something out of one of these events that Illinois Export Week will be hosting throughout the state. For more information go here.
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