Lincoln Chafee: “What I propose to do is give more SBDCs the tools they need to encourage small companies to start exporting. As the…”

“What I propose to do is give more SBDCs the tools they need to encourage small companies to start exporting. As the Senator knows, the SBDCs are doing a terrific job helping small business owners devise business plans, marketing strategies, and so forth, but many of them simply don't have the capacity to offer advice on how to export. We ought to try to change that, in my view. Exporting is the name of the game today--even for small businesses. And one way to do that would be to broaden access to a successful small business export promotion program called the International Trade Data Network, or ITDN. Now, what is the ITDN? The ITDN is a computer-based service that small business owners can use to retrieve a stunning amount of international trade data--compiled both from Federal Government sources and the private sector. With a few quick keystrokes, individuals can read about everything from market demographics to descriptions of upcoming trade missions to explanations of relevant export and import regulations to potential contract leads. Small businesses anxious to export can learn about virtually every industry and virtually every country.”