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San Diego CITD Update
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April 2016
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The San Diego CITD, in conjunction with the San Diego District Office of the Small Business Administration (SBA), hosted a workshop on how businesses can leverage government-backed financing options to grow their exports. The workshop, titled "Financing Your Exports" was geared toward existing businesses that are looking to export for the first time or expand their exports into new markets. The workshop began with a welcome and brief overview of the CITD's programs and services by CITD Director, Victor Castillo. After which, Cynthia Harris, Economic Development Specialist with the SBA talked about how the SBA can help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses before introducing the first guest speaker, Martin Selander, Regional Manager of the SBA Export Solutions Group in Newport Beach. Mr. Selander covered the nuts and bolts of the various SBA guaranteed financing programs that can provide businesses with working capital to facilitate export transactions.
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The San Diego Contracting Opportunities Center (SDCOC)-an economic development program of Southwestern College that helps small businesses compete for and perform on federal, state, and local government contracts-hosted its first annual Contracting Connections event which provided business owners an opportunity to meet one-on-one with buyers for local, state, and federal agencies as well as large prime contractors. Businesses that registered for the event were matched up with potential customers in the government market that are a fit for the products and/or services they sell.
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The California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development (EWD) Program's Small Business Sector Navigator, recognizing need to develop programs that will help prepare students to succeed in an entrepreneurial economy, put out an RFA in the fall of 2015 for a total of ten Faculty Entrepreneurship Champion (FEC) mini-grants, one for each community college region in the state, of up to $7,500 each. The purpose of the grants was to help business faculty at community colleges infuse entrepreneurship curriculum into existing classes and programs or develop experiential entrepreneurial learning opportunities for students.
Working in conjunction with San Diego CITD Business Advisor and Youth Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator, Gabriel Reyes, Southwestern College Business Professor Yvonne Lucas was awarded an FEC grant for the San Diego region.
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The World Trade Center San Diego is now accepting applications for the MetroConnect Prize. MetroConnect will award 15 San Diego companies $10,000 each in matching funds to assist with a company's next step in going global. The application period runs from April 1 to May 2.
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MEXPORT, organized by the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce, is the region's premier industrial trade show promoting trade and business opportunities in the Southern California/Baja California region. MEXPORT, held this year on April 21st, 2016, will allow you to access the $11 Billion supplier's market in Baja California's manufacturing industry.
For more information and up-to-date news on MEXPORT, click here.
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The FTA Tariff Tool is an online resource to help you determine the tariff, or tax at the border, that certain foreign countries will collect when your product crosses into their country. In trade agreements, countries commit to lowering tariff rates over time to zero. The FTA Tariff Data Tool is a database with all of the rates the United States' Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners have committed to implementing and maintaining.
The FTA Tariff Tool incorporates all products (agricultural and non-agricultural goods) classified within all 97 chapters of the Harmonized System, and includes information on product-specific rules of origin to determine the eligibility of the reduced tariff rates under with any US FTA Partner. The Tariff Tool not only provides information on current tariff lines, but also provides transparency on future tariffs and the year in which those products become duty free.
For more information and to access the FTA Tariff Tool, click here.
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About the CITD
Expand your business through International Trade!
The San Diego Center for International Trade Development (CITD) assists small and medium-sized enterprises expand internationally by providing low and no-cost programs and services including, one-on-one technical assistance and consulting, market research, training and educational programs, trade leads and special events.
International trade counseling is available by appointment at the following San Diego CITD Locations:
Chula Vista
Southwestern College
900 Otay Lakes Road
Building 660
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Otay Mesa
SWC Higher Education Center Otay Mesa
8100 Gigantic Street
Building 4500
San Diego, CA 92154
National City
National City
Chamber of Commerce
901 National City Blvd.
National City, CA 91950
Mission Valley
San Diego Contracting Opportunities Center
4007 Camino del Rio South
Room 210
San Diego, CA 92108
East County
East County EDC
1908 Friendship Drive
Suite A
El Cajon, CA 92020
For appointments, call
(619) 482-6393 or visit
The CITD initiative was awarded the prestigious Presidential "E" Award for its significant contribution to helping expand export trade.
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Deputy Sector Navigator for Global Trade & Logistics
Part of the California Community Colleges "Doing What Matters for Jobs and the Econony" initiative, the DSN for Global Trade & Logistics is focused on aligning curriculum and training programs in International Business and Logistics, across the community colleges in the San Diego & Imperial Counties region, to meet industry needs and help students develop successful career paths in high-growth, high-wage industries.
Visit the DSN website for information on international business-related programs, resources, and tools for students, employers, faculty, and workers. |
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CalSTEP Border Export Program
Want to increase your sales by supplying to major international manufacturers?
Our CalSTEP Border Export Program can help match you with manufacturers looking for your products and services.
California STEP, funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration, facilitates export promotion activities, serving targeted industries to drive exports for small business. |
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Are you ready to pursue and win government contracts? If so, the San Diego Contracting Opportunities Center(SDCOC), also known as the San Diego PTAC, is a resource partner of the San Diego CITD and is here to assist you. SDCOC's mission is to assist San Diego county small businesses with the information, resources, and technical assistance they need to effectively compete for and perform on federal, state, and local government contracts.
If you are interested in becoming a client of the SDCOC, please complete their online application located at www.ptac-sandiego.org/application. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to visit their website for more information at www.ptac-sandiego.org or call 619-285-7020.
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Reference in this newsletter to any specific commercial products, brand names, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the San Diego CITD, or its officers, employees or agents.
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