Intro to Government Financing & Grants for E-Commerce Interational Expansion

April 27, 2022 - 12:00 PM EDT

Intro to Government Financing & Grants for E-Commerce Interational Expansion

Fuel your International Expansion with the Main U.S. Government Export Promotion and Finance Programs

Navigating resources from Federal and State government agencies can be exhausting. That’s why The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), the U.S. Commercial Service Harlem Office, Small Business Administration, SBDC, Silicon Harlem and a star-studded list of government and industry partners have pulled together real human speakers to provide an introduction to the many national programs that are offered to support your international expansion.

We've assembled a digital dream team to power your online growth.

Clayton Banks, Silicon Harlem welcomes us and walks us through the why and what of the workshop

MBDA gives insight into the latest programs for support

The US Commercial Service talks services and the Four Keys to Export

Empire State Development tells us about the STEP Grants for internationalizing your website and saying “yes” to global

Getting to Global talks about common ways to use grant money and financing for ecommerce cross-border expansion

The U.S. Small Business Administration talks about the Export Express Loans

EXIM talks about overseas buyer insurance and more

Carver Bank tells us about how to best prepare for loan approvals

The Small Business Development Center

Hosted by Josh Halpern

Josh works primarily across digital, education, and public policy arenas focused on strategic business development, ecommerce, government relations, corporate communications and marketing in China, Europe, the United States, Latin America and India. He is always open to connecting with pioneering individuals to educate, entertain and motivate people.

A Grow Big Initiative Partner Program Event

The Grow Big Initiative partners, working with their government agency counterparts, deliver interactive workshops that start with questions and deliver answers that build a customized roadmap for each individual participant.

Click here to find out more about becoming a Grow Big Initiative partner.

Meet the Speakers

Simona Racek

Getting to Global

Simona Racek is the Director of Global Trade at Getting to Global, Simona’s expertise focuses on export strategies, including assessing export regulations and facilitating applications for export-related financing and government grants. She supports companies with developing global export market plans/budgets, general cross border ecommerce strategy, export documentation, international distribution and logistics plans, compliance reviews, structuring international trade transactions, STEP export reimbursable grant and EXIM/SBA export loan products applications.

Ed Ekel - Small Business Administration

Ed Ekel from the Small Business Administration (SBA) talks about small business financing to increase your international sales.

Peter Tierney

U.S. Commercial Service

Peter Tierney brings over 25 years of exporting experience with him to his position as the Director of the Harlem USEAC. Peter has developed exports for a wide range of US made products and services. These include IT products, water treatment systems, outdoor power equipment, integrated chips, software services, renewable energy equipment, roofing, mousetraps, snow shovels and power electronics, to name just a few. Peter developed his export skills at the largest Japanese Export Trading Company - Mitsui & Co, of Japan, and the largest US Export Management Company - Dorian Drake International, of New York.

LaTaunya Darden

LaTaunya works in the Minority, Women-Owned, and Underserved Business Outreach Division at EXIM Bank. She assists exporters who apply for the Working Capital Guarantee Program as well as Export Credit Insurance. With several years of International Trade counseling experience, LaTaunya is a valuable asset and has a passion for guiding exporters and lenders through the process ensuring they understand and follow the policies and procedures of EXIM programs. In her current role, LaTaunya manages a portfolio of minority business organizations in the Northeast section of the country. LaTaunya is responsible for building awareness about EXIM Bank’s products and services to small businesses, particularly those in underserved communities. The portfolio activity of organizations that LaTaunya manages has grown tremendously due to her diligence in educating the organizations and businesses that she serves. LaTaunya holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration of Justice and resides in Washington, DC.

Lloyd Doaman

Carver Bank

Antonio Rodriguez

Antonio Rodriguez is a Senior International Trade Manager at Global NY Division, where he counsels New York companies on all aspects of Global NY programs and services, which are available to promote exports. Antonio is responsible for managing the New York State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). The STEP grant program is a collaborative funding opportunity initiative with the U.S. Small Business Administration developed to increase the number of small businesses that export and the value of small business exports. The STEP grant program helps small businesses overcome obstacles to exporting by providing grants to cover costs associated with entering and expanding into international markets.

Sandra Madera

Sandra Madera is the Assistant Director for Programming & Outreach, responsible for the operations in the Columbia Harlem Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Sandra works with the Assistant Dean, Community Partnerships & Managing Director of the SBDC, toward annual objectives and fulfilling the Center's mission of serving entrepreneurs and creating new businesses. She has been with Columbia University and this community since 2005.

Date & Time

April 27, 2022 - 12:00 PM EDT

Topics

US Government Financing to Support E-Commerce Expansion

Get one-on-one advice

Our partners are looking forward to meeting you. Make a connection today to start the conversation.

This event is brought to you by

The Grow Big Initiative (GBI) brings together best-in-breed industry experts, business leaders and government officials to re-tool and empower small and medium-sized companies to get online and start selling EVERYWHERE.

Book a free session with our partners today!

The Grow Big initiative has put together this team of partners to help you get the most out of your e-commerce strategy. You can book a free, no strings attached session to get started right now.

Silicon Harlem

Silicon Harlem was founded ten years ago with one simple yet revolutionary goal: To transform Harlem and other urban markets into technology and innovation hubs that fully engage in the digital economy.

Minority Business Development Agency

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is the only federal agency solely dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises.

U.S. Commercial Service

The U.S. Commercial Service (CS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, offers companies a full range of expertise in international trade. Companies can find assistance locally in more than 100 U.S. Commercial Service offices nationwide and in more than 70 international offices.

Empire State Development

New York State is committed to helping your international business prosper and grow—no matter where you’re from or what stage your business is in. Providing easy access to the North American marketplace, world-class infrastructure, creative incentives, extensive R&D and the lowest taxes in decades, New York is attracting companies from around the world.

Getting to Global

We are a diverse team of international experts working tirelessly to deploy innovative technology solutions and programs. Our platforms multiply the impact of trade and investment organizations around the world, helping democratize global trade, foster global entrepreneurship, and create equal opportunity for all.

U.S. Small Business Administration

Created in 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) continues to help small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.

EXIM

The EXIM Bank is the official export credit agency of the United States. Our mission is to support American job creation, prosperity and security through exporting. We accomplish this by unlocking financing solutions for U.S. companies competing around the globe. We help level the playing field and fill gaps in private sector financing.

Carver Bank

Carver Bank is dedicated to helping local businesses succeed. Because of our deep commitment to the local business community, we offer a wide range of commercial loans that can be tailored to your specific needs.

New York Small Business Development Center

The New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC) provides small business owners and entrepreneurs in New York with the highest quality, confidential business counseling, training, and business research at no cost.