Dept. of Commerce: Commerce, UW-Whitewater sign export development agreement

Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661

WHITEWATER—Department of Commerce (Commerce) Secretary Richard J. Leinenkugel and UW-Whitewater Chancellor Richard Telfer, Ph.D., today signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in assisting southeastern Wisconsin companies with export development. The event took place in Hyland Hall at the UW-Whitewater.

“Through this agreement, we can extend our reach and assist more businesses that want to gain a share of the fast-growing global marketplace,” said Commerce Secretary Richard J. Leinenkugel. “Commerce and the UW-Whitewater will develop, share, and maintain best practices in exporting, helping businesses and thereby contributing to overall economic development in the region.”

“This agreement will allow the Global Business Resource Center to share its expertise with business throughout the state,” said Dr. Telfer. “The UW-Whitewater Global Business Resource Center (GBRC) has a long history of providing exceptional service to businesses looking to expand into new markets around the world. We’re pleased that these services will now be available to even more companies.”

“Economic development is a critical priority for our area, and I am pleased to hear that UW-Whitewater and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce will now have the ability to assist local businesses in export development,” said Rep. Kim Hixson (D-Whitewater), who is a UW-Whitewater professor on leave while serving in the State Assembly. “As Chairman of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee, I believe the intersection between business and higher education is an important extension of the ‘Wisconsin Idea.’ Collaborative efforts like this will help businesses in our area market their products around the world.”

The agreement spells out the duties of the GBRC and Commerce’s Bureau of Export Development (Bureau), which will collaborate in this initiative.

The GBRC will do the following:

1) Refer companies to the Bureau that need assistance in developing globally;

2) Use Bureau staff, when appropriate, to develop course materials and present in training programs; and

3) Reimburse Commerce for Bureau staff approved expenses related to travel for international training that will enhance their knowledge of global commerce

The Bureau will do the following:

1) Provide resources and assist area businesses in developing global markets;

2) Promote and participate in training developed by the Center; and

3) Collaborate with GBRC on grant initiatives and projects that benefit businesses, students and faculty in the region.

This is another initiative in Commerce’s Global Partnership Services (GPS) program, which sets about training local communities, universities, technical colleges, economic development organizations and service organizations in the ABCs of exporting. They, in turn, can help local companies in their respective areas succeed in international markets.

Bureau staff currently provide the following services on a menu basis to allow local organizations to customize their activities:

* An analysis of the community’s international business potential;

* Information to companies and local developers on the international consulting services available to them;

* Training opportunities for companies to develop or expand their exports;

* One-on-one consultation with local firms either identified by local partners or firms met at educational seminars;

* The inclusion by the program partner of an export element in business events, such as inviting an experienced exporter to speak at a meeting on export opportunities; and

* A Certificate of Origin Program for Local Chambers. Certain foreign governments require a signed and notarized statement as to the country of origin of the export item. In some cases the document can be on the exporter’s own letterhead, but in others they must be from a chamber of commerce or a government agency.

For additional information about GPS, please contact Mary Regel, director, Bureau of Export Development, 608/266-1767 or at mary.regel@wisconsin.gov. For more information about GBRC, contact Amy S. Coon, Associate director, GBRC, 262-472-1956, coona@uww.edu