Export Expansion Program Working Effectively, Could Use Improvements, Panelists Tell House Subcommittee

The U.S. Small Business Administration's State Trade Expansion Program has been mostly effective, business owners and trade industry leaders said during a House Small Business subcommittee panel on June 11, helping them export to international markets and expand their businesses. But the panelists also advocated for changes, such as a reduction in the “administrative burden” caused by the program. The discussion came as Congress prepares to reauthorize the program, which was created by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 and which provides grants to states to increase exporting opportunities for small businesses.

All four panelists advocated for the reauthorization of the program. Jennifer Bacon, a small-business owner in Westminster, Colorado, said the program’s grants have “enabled us to get in front of retailers directly and bypass expensive distributors.” Wade Merritt, president and state director of international trade for Maine’s International Trade Center, said the program has also benefited businesses in Maine. “It’s critical that international markets be a part of small businesses’ growth strategy,” he said.

But the program should be simplified and have more funding, said Jennifer Black, executive director of export development for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The program should reduce “the administrative burden on clients and staff,” she said. Clifton Broumand, the CEO of a small business in Maryland, suggested that business owners aren't aware of the program and advocated for more exposure. “Everybody is just trying [so hard] to survive as a small business person that they’re not looking out for it,” he said.