Many local, state and federal government agencies, as well as Congressman Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, converged at the Hamilton Mill in Hamilton Friday to give an overview of the government resources available for small- and medium-sized businesses.
“The vast majority of net new jobs in America come from firms that are less than a decade old, which means that if your local, state and federal government does not have a policy related to cultivating this vital part of the economic sector, then we don’t have a 21st-century strategy for economic development,” said Hamilton Mill Executive Director Chris Lawson.
Government agencies that presented at the event included U.S. Commercial Service; U.S. Department of Commerce; U.S. Small Business Administration; the Butler County Small Business Development Center and City of Middletown; Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network at Wright State University; and FASTLANE, located at University of Dayton Research Institute.
Debbie Dirr, international trade specialist with the U.S. Commercial Service, stressed how invaluable the government agencies can be for entrepreneurs. U.S. Commercial Services has 108 offices located across the U.S. and 78 international offices, all of which are staffed with international trade specialists who are dedicated to helping small- and medium sized enterprises expand internationally.
“The more we can work together on the various levels of government, the better the outcomes will be for entrepreneurs wherever they are located.”
This includes identifying companies that have the potential to export and guiding them on every aspect of doing business internationally, such as helping companies comply with international laws, updating websites for the global marketplace, and providing company background checks on potential international partners.
“The web is full of information, but sometimes you just need a person to explain it to you,” Dirr said. She added that one reason government services are so helpful to entrepreneurs is that they are free, funded by tax revenue. Comparable private services can cost much more.
The government agency also operates the websites export.gov and stopfakes.gov that aim to serve entrepreneurs.
“International [trade] isn’t always as scary as people think it is, as long as you use your resources and do it correctly,” said Alex Kohls, a district international trade officer of the SBA. The SBA helps to build small businesses through counseling, assisting in the acquirement of government contracts, loan guarantee programs and disaster relief funds.
Beyond federal government resources, entrepreneurs can also look to local county and city government resources. In Hamilton, the Butler County Small Business Development Center provides counseling to those either starting or developing their businesses. The Center provides assistance in business plan development, market research, social media and other outreach strategies. Financial services provided include locating financing options, loan structuring programs, cash flow analysis and financial projections.
“If you export to Canada or Mexico, there is a good chance you can export to other countries as well,” said Kathy Marshalek, director of the Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network at Wright State University. The Network helps companies determine if they have export potential.
The event concluded with a presentation by FASTLANE, which provides manufacturing consultants and engineers dedicated to making top resources affordable to small- and medium-sized manufacturers.
“Public officials, universally, regardless of sector, are dedicated to growing and cultivating this vital sector,” Lawson said. “The more we can work together on the various levels of government, the better the outcomes will be for entrepreneurs wherever they are located.”
Watch a video of the event below.
https://www.facebook.com/tvhamiltonohio/videos/vb.468584220051/10159818023640052/?type=2&theater
