ITC Offered Webinar for Veterans and Members of the Military Community

Veterans own a majority share of nine percent of all companies in the U.S.  To that end, the Small Business Administration, the Veterans Business Resource Center and the International Trade Center at SIUE hosted a no-cost webinar on September 23 to assist veterans in growing their companies globally through exporting.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that veteran-owned businesses generate more than $1 trillion in annual sales.

According to  ITC Director Silvia Torres Bowman, who conducted the webinar, this professional education opportunity was aimed at supporting those who have served their country faithfully and are now leaders of their own organizations.    

   “During this webinar, veteran-owned business executives learned how to decide whether their business should go global, steps and strategies for export success, how to evaluate market opportunities and more,” Torres Bowman said. “We also provided financial and technical assistance information to small and medium-sized exporters via our ISTEP program (Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion Program) and we covered some of the challenges and potential rewards of selling abroad.”

The  International Trade Center at SIUE serves entrepreneurs and small businesses in southern Illinois by providing individualized, export consultation; identification of foreign buyers, agents and/or distributors through trade leads; international market analysis and more. The ITC is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as a service to the region’s entrepreneurial and business community.

The Illinois SBDC Network provides one-stop assistance to individuals by means of counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses. As a key member of this Network, the International Trade Center delivers these important services to its clients while supporting the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large.

For more information on why your company should consider doing business globally or to learn how these no-cost services may help your business, contact Torres Bowman at sitorre@siue.edu or (618) 650-2452.