CONTACTS: Linda Rozett/Eric Wohlschlegel
(202) 463-5682 / 888-249-NEWS

 

Wednesday, October 8, 2003 

 

U.S. Chamber Receives Federal Grant; Program Helps Small Businesses With Trade

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The United States Chamber of Commerce won a $400,000 Commerce Department grant to help small and midsize businesses take advantage of new international trade agreements.

 

“Small and midsize companies need the tools and know-how to access international markets once free trade agreements are signed,” said Leslie Schweitzer, the Chamber’s Senior Trade Advisor.  “This grant will help American businesses expand their operations into new markets – which will promote better jobs and economic growth.”

 

The Chamber received the grant from the Department of Commerce International Trade Administration Market Development Cooperator Program.  The grant will be used for the Chamber’s TradeRoots program as part of its Free Trade Agreement Education and Trade Facilitation Project.

 

The program will educate and help build capacity for small and medium sized businesses to develop exports to take advantage of new free trade agreements.  The International Trade Administration and TradeRoots together will provide the umbrella to expand the capacity of individual states’ trade development infrastructure by leveraging local resources and encouraging regional cooperation.

 

“The timing for this support could not be better since America’s leadership on trade was strengthened through the recent passage of Trade Promotion Authority,” continued Schweitzer.  “Now, with new agreements with Chile and Singapore, American entrepreneurs can stay competitive in the global marketplace.”

 

The Chamber, in its efforts to drive small business expansion, will match the Commerce Department’s grant 2-to-1 and work closely with state and local chambers.

 

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