Here in the U.S., May is designated as World Trade Month, and while it’s important to recognize the impact global trade has on our daily lives all the time, it’s worth taking a moment now to consider just how much your life might be different if we didn’t have access to goods and services from outside our borders. According to worldtrademonth.com, U.S. exports totaled $2.5 trillion in 2018. Those dollars touch an estimated 11.5 million U.S. jobs and account for 13 percent of GDP. As you might imagine, without these goods and services, our lives – and our economy – would be dramatically different. To discuss the importance of having a defined export strategy for your business, we sat down with Steven R. Zirkel, owner of Blue Everest LLC, a strategic growth consulting, business advising and executive coaching firm.

On Feb. 26, as a student in the Export Success class of 2021, you'll join a team of business professionals in ready-to-export, new-to-export and longtime export businesses. Not only is this class built to help you grow your business by expanding into new international markets through classes on export law, cross-cultural communications and building an export plan, it's also designed to train your brightest and newest employees how to carry on your exporting efforts as they rise within your company. But the class isn't just unique in its variety of classmates; its expert mentors will help you get the most out of your export plans. Let's meet two of our newest mentors in the class of 2021.

By Amanda DePerro, Communications Manager

​It seems to have become a mantra in the last few months: times are tough. We are living in unprecedented and unpredictable times. And no matter how much we say it, it doesn’t make it less true – or perhaps less painful. But here in the Toledo Region and around the country, organizations are working together to support their communities and be the rising tide to lift all ships. One such organization is Huntington Bank, and its Lift Local Business Program, part of its five-year, $20 billion Community Plan.

By Sabrina D'Onofrio, CGBP, CBA

With Export Success' class of 2021 beginning in little over a month, it's about time for the excitement to set in. By registering for Export Success, not only are you joining a team of likeminded, intelligent business professionals, you're also working to grow your business into new international markets and expanding your product or service's reach. But you're not just growing your network of consumers in Export Success – you're building your network of people who you can call and lean on when you have questions or just need a mentor.

The Ohio Small Business Development Center District Three isn't here to run your business for you – we're here to guide you, to show you the options and resources available to you, and to share with you the best practices so you can be successful. 

At the Toledo Small Business Development Center (SBDC), we're all about people – and helping people achieve their dreams. Our clients own a variety of small businesses all over northwest Ohio, each with a unique set of successes and challenges. And our expert team of counselors is here to assist in any situation.

By Sabrina D'Onofrio, CGBP, CBA

Don't let yourself or your business suffer because of the myths that precede the concept of exporting abroad. If you believe exporting is too complicated or unnecessary then I highly recommend that you register for Export Success 2021. Export Success 2021 is now 100% reimbursable for eligible companies who apply for the IMAGE Grant from the State of Ohio.

On Oct. 15, 2020, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz announced that the second round of the Emergency Microenterprise Recovery Grant (EMRG) would begin to accept new applications at 9 a.m. on Oct. 19. The first round of the grant opened May 11 and closed May 24, and the second round will be the final round of the EMRG. A deadline for the application period has not been announced.

Though 2020 has been a difficult year for businesses not just here in the Toledo Region but around the country and world, it’s never a bad time to put in the effort to expand your business through exporting. It’s as important as ever to maintain confidence in your business’ future, and that means forging ahead. And you don’t have to do it alone.

​​By Sabrina D'Onofrio, CGBP, CBA​, Export Assistance Director

Beginning July 1, 2020, the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), or sometimes referred to as NAFTA 2.0, will replace the North America Free Trade Agreement, more commonly known as NAFTA. An agreement was made to modernize the 25-year-old agreement into a 21st century agreement with the highest standards.