California Receives Money to Boost Small Business Exports

California has received $500,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration to increase export activities among small businesses. The funding, part of the State Trade Export Promotion program, will boost trade in foreign markets, – including China, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Mexico, – and encourage exports of information technologies, food and agricultural products, consumer goods and medical equipment.

California is the one of the largest exporting states in the nation. The state exports more than $163 billion in products, about 11% of all U.S. exports. This international trade supports more than 706,000 California jobs. Top markets for California’s exports include Mexico, Canada and China.

“On average, more than 25 percent of California’s agricultural production is exported,” said California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary Karen Ross. “This federal funding is a victory for farmers and ranchers, food manufacturers, and the rural communities where they operate.”

California’s State Trade Export Promotion (STEP) program  is a partnership between the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), CDFA, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the Centers for International Trade Development. The program brings together state, federal, private and nonprofit trade promotion organizations to promote export activities among targeted industries. California STEP is funded in part by a U.S. Small Business Administration grant.

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