Get the latest with our eNewsletter
SBDC: EXPORT ASSISTANCE NETWORK (EAN)
GLOBAL ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED ENTERPRISES
Funded by the Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the SBDC Export Assistance Network (EAN) provides international business assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (under 500 employees) in Northeast Ohio promoting business growth.
PROVIDING EXPORT RESOURCES TO REGIONAL BUSINESSES
Our trade counselors have worked for Ohio manufacturers in positions of export, gaining practical experience as well as a depth and knowledge. It is the SBDC EAN’s goal to help you start or grow your export sales, create and retain jobs and establish new foreign customers / distributors / agents, for your business.
Services are primarily provided in the nine counties surrounding the Cleveland-Akron-Canton area, however, the SBDC EAN can assist any Ohio company desiring to grow their business through exporting and international trade. The SBDC EAN works in collaboration with the U.S. Commercial Service, as well as providing access to the resources at Cleveland State. Questions? Check out FAQs page and Resources page.
PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
GlobalTarget
GLOBALTARGET is our accelerator program that helps provides a low-cost, interactive methods to extend a company’s international resources to build an effective global strategy. Companies will gain the skills they need to manage global markets.
To participate in the GlobalTarget program, we request a 7-month commitment from November 2024 through May 2025. This year’s program will feature a special alignment to the US Departments of Commerce’s Trade Wind trade mission to South America. Participants will have an interest to participate or expand exports to Latin America.
3-Day Global Business Bootcamp
Certified Global Business Professional Training is offered twice a year in Fall and in Spring. This three-day seminar comprehensively reviews the essential how-to’s of global business basics for working professionals the realm of international trade. Our "boot camp" covers the top 150 points of knowledge ranging from sales, marketing, management, logistics, payment and many others. Perfect for the professional who "doesn't know what they don't know" about doing business internationally. Get up to speed quickly on all the basics.
We also provide GLOBALREACH EVENTS– international business focused events, programs and workshops.
PROVIDING EXPORTING EXPERTISE
Counseling is free and confidential. Meetings with trade advisors are by appointment only. We also offer low-cost options for larger scale consulting projects and company-wide training. We offer both in-person and virtual advising meetings.
PROGRAMS
COUNSELING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
First-time exporters
Trade finance and payment options for export
Export controls/US government compliance
Foreign customs requirements
Logistics support
Export strategies
Navigating cultural communication
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH
Access to in-market trade offices
Landed-cost calculations
Tariffs and free trade agreements
Customer validation
New customer searches