Ex-Im Bank Joins With Virginia Small Business Development Center To Boost Exports

Posted by Heidi Schwartz

Export-Import Bank logo.
Photo: http://heritageaction.com.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has joined forces with the Virginia Small Business Development Center/George Mason University to assist local businesses to boost their export sales and add quality American jobs as part of Ex-Im Bank’s City/State Program. The program is expected to accelerate export business and job growth by connecting Bank products and services to a statewide network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs).

The City/State Program helps ensure that Ex-Im Bank’s export finance products are more accessible to small and medium-sized businesses by way of local, state and regional economic development and business support organizations. Each City/State Program member pledges to make financing assistance and entrepreneurial services available to local businesses in order to create, promote and expand exports from their area. Ex-Im Bank provides members with free marketing and training materials, qualified finance experts to speak at members’ local events, assistance with outreach and counseling, and access to a network of lenders, insurance brokers, and U.S. Government export resources.

“Ex-Im Bank can offer Virginia businesses that want to grow their exports numerous tools and resources,” said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. “In FY 2014 alone, Ex-Im Bank supported $306.2 million in Virginia small business exports, and we would like to increase the amount in the coming year.”

“The Virginia SBDC Network is very pleased to be in the City/State program,” said Jody Keenan, State Director for the Virginia SBDC Network. “The SBDC helps companies overcome barriers to exporting, and Ex-Im Bank resources and expertise are important financial solutions to bring to our clients.”