State to host regional export seminars for small business owners

[December 11, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Trade and Investment, in cooperation with the Illinois International Trade Centers, will host a series of export seminars for small business owners who are interested in growing their exports or in entering the export market. The seminars will feature information on the State Trade and Export Promotion grant program, or STEP, which provides financial and technical export assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises in Illinois.

The STEP program is a three-year pilot program authorized by the federal Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.The initiative focuses on providing small and medium-sized enterprises with financial and technical export assistance. Representatives from local, state and federal governments will present information on Illinois' STEP and other export programs that are available to help small businesses succeed in the international marketplace.

Expanding global trade partnerships is critical to Illinois' continued economic recovery. Illinois ranks first in the Midwest for exports and foreign direct investment. The state's exports totaled over $64.8 billion in 2011, a 29.5 percent increase over 2010.

The dates, times and locations of the free seminars are as follows:

• Tuesday, Dec. 11, 10-11:30 a.m.
  Elgin Community College, Bldg. E, Room 100.01
  University and Business Center
  1700 Spartan Drive
  Elgin, IL 60123
  To register, call 847-214-7488

• Thursday, Dec. 13, 2-3 p.m.
  Bradley University online seminar
  To register, visit Exports.Illinois.gov and click on the "Upcoming Export Seminars" tab.

• Friday, Dec. 14, 8-9 a.m.
  NIU -- Rockford
  8500 E. State St.
  Rockford, IL 61108
  To register, visit Exports.Illinois.gov and click on the "Upcoming Export Seminars" tab.

• Tuesday, Dec. 18, 10-11:30 a.m.
  Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
  200 E. Randolph St., Suite 2200
  Chicago, IL 60601
  To register, visit Exports.Illinois.gov and click on the "Upcoming Export Seminars" tab.

• Thursday, Jan. 17, 9-11 a.m.
  Governor's State University
  Hall of Honors, One University Parkway
  University Park, IL 60484
  To register, visit Exports.Illinois.gov and click on the "Upcoming Export Seminars" tab.

• Wednesday, Jan. 23, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
  Centralia Tech Center
  For more information, contact Robyn Russell at 618-536-2424.

[Text from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]