Please note: This is not an all-inclusive list. If you know of a resource that may be helpful to manufacturers or if you find an outdated link on our site, please contact MMA Webmaster.
Pure Michigan – Export Now: Michigan Companies are invited to participate in an all inclusive Business-to-Consumer export opportunity using an e-Commerce solution reaching millions of Chinese consumers with full detail web postings in Chinese language and selling in Chinese currency. The Export Now option removes the normal barriers with their one-stop management of logistics from the US seaport through customs arrival, warehousing, website management and order fulfillment
Export-Import Bank: The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank’s mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets. Ex-Im Bank enables U.S. companies — large and small — to turn export opportunities into real sales that help to maintain and create U.S. jobs and contribute to a stronger national economy. The Ex-Im Bank provides working capital guarantees (pre-export financing), export credit insurance and loan guarantees and direct loans (buyer financing). No transaction is too large or too small.
CommerceConnect: Offers a comprehensive portfolio of federal, state, local and nonprofit business assistance resources including more than 70 U.S. Department of Commerce programs — including business and trade research data and export, import and market diversification assistance — many at no cost to U.S. entrepreneurs and businesses. CommerceConnect is where business, resources and opportunities connect for industry growth and job creation. The portal supports U.S. businesses by cataloging government and nonprofit enterprise assistance resources; matching them to specific business needs; and streamlining access to the programs and services needed most.
Business.gov: Provides information and resources to help small businesses comply with federal, state and local business laws and government regulations.
Export.gov: Brings together resources from across the U.S. Government to assist American businesses in planning their international sales strategies and succeed in today’s global marketplace. The U.S Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration manages Export.gov as a collaborative effort with the 19 federal agencies that offer export assistance programs and services. From trade events, market research and trade leads from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service to export finance information from Ex-Im Bank and the Small Business Administration to agricultural export assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Export.gov helps American exporters navigate the international sales process and avoid pitfalls such as non-payment and intellectual property misappropriation.
The Gold Key Matching Service: The U.S. Commercial Service can help you find potential overseas agents, distributors, sales representatives and business partners.
Small Business Administration: Approximately 70 percent of all U.S. exporters have 20 or fewer employees. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has placed a priority on helping these small business exporters by providing a number of loan programs specifically designed to help them develop or expand their export activities:
SBA Export Express: Provides streamlined financing up to $500,000 and offers flexibility and ease of use to both borrowers and lenders. It is the simplest export loan product offered by the SBA and allows participating lenders to use their own forms, procedures and analyses. The SBA provides an answer in 36 hours or less.
Export Working Capital Program (EWCP): Most banks in the U.S. do not provide working capital advances on export orders, export receivables or letters of credit. Because of that, some small businesses may lack necessary export working capital to support their export sales. That is where the EWCP can make the difference. SBA provides lenders with up to a 90 percent guaranty on export loans as a credit enhancement, so the lenders will make the necessary export working capital available.
International Trade Loan Program: Offers term loans to businesses that plan to start or continue exporting, or that have been adversely affected by competition from imports. The proceeds of the loan must enable the borrower to be in a better position to compete. The program offers borrowers a maximum SBA-guaranteed portion of $1.75 million.
SBA and Ex-Im Bank Co-Guarantee Program: Provides small business exporters the ability to obtain larger export working capital loans through the Export Working Capital Program than SBA can support alone. The Co-Guarantee offers flexible terms, low fees and quick processing time.
U.S. Export Assistance Centers: Export Assistance Centers are staffed by professionals from the SBA, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Ex-Im Bank and other public and private organizations. Together, their mission is to provide the help you need to compete in today’s global marketplace. Your local U.S. Export Assistance Center is a one-stop shop designed to provide export assistance for small- or medium-sized businesses. Michigan has four assistance centers located in Grand Rapids, Detroit, Ypsilanti and Pontiac.
VanAndel Global Trade Center: The mission of Van Andel Global Trade Center is to strengthen the community through increased global business by providing international consulting, training, and resources. Additional services include cultural education, a language center, matchmaking/trade missions/business development, foreign visits and speaker series, information collection and advocacy.
MSU globalEDGE™: Created by the International Business Center (IBC) at Michigan State University, globalEDGE™ is a knowledge web portal that connects international business professionals worldwide to a wealth of information, insights and learning resources on global business activities including information on all countries and U.S. states, in-depth analysis of selected industries, an international business blog that provides insights on business around the world, extensive research and teaching resources, and decision-making diagnostic tools.