Goal of new partnership: Increase export sales by Brooklyn small businesses

November 13, 2012 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
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Brooklyn small businesses will be able to more easily access the resources they need to increase export sales, thanks to a new partnership between the Export-Import Bank of the United States and the city’s Department of Small Business Services (SBS). Deputy Mayor Robert Steel, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, SBS Commissioner Robert Walsh and Bank Chair Fred Hochberg made the announcement late last, month at the Brooklyn Navy Yard during a roundtable conversation with manufacturing businesses involved in exporting.

The SBS is the bank’s most recent city-state partner, which will help NYC Business Solutions expand its financial assistance services to businesses interested in starting or growing export sales.

“With this exciting new partnership, the city’s Small Business Solutions centers will add a new tool to their toolkit — helping to connect local businesses to the suite of products and services offered by the Ex-Im Bank,” said Steel. “So in addition to being able to get help formulating a business plan, accessing capital and hiring talented New Yorkers, small businesses will be able to get a leg up in selling more of their products overseas, which means more and more jobs in all five boroughs here at home.”

Said Walsh, “Last year, NYC Business Solutions helped connect small businesses to nearly $39 million in capital, and partnering with Ex-Im Bank will help us go even further. We will now be able to assist businesses who want to expand beyond the five boroughs and export their NYC-made goods and services globally.”

Commented Quinn, “This partnership capitalizes on the Department of Small Business Services’ experience in helping small businesses grow and the Ex-Im Bank’s expertise in helping businesses tap into new markets for their goods and services. This collaboration not only gives local businesses the ability to grow their bottom lines, it can help a baker in Woodside sell bagels in Japan or a designer in Bedford-Stuyvesant sell their jewelry in Ireland.”

The seven NYC Business Solutions Centers, including two in Brooklyn, provide free financing assistance, business courses, legal assistance, navigating government, incentives, recruiting, training employees, and certification.

So far this year, the centers have provided more than 6,300 free services to over 4,200 businesses. 

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