UW and Wyoming SBDC Network to Host Final Webinar in State Trade Expansion Program Series

The Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network concludes its six-part webinar series about the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) that will guide small-business owners through the steps to expand into international trade and to provide real-world examples from successful Wyoming small-business exporters.

Multiple speakers will discuss options for financing company exports during the sixth and final webinar in the series titled “Money Talk” from noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, March 22. To register, go here. Registration is free.

The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by the University of Wyoming with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

During this webinar, a banker and government speakers will review their finance programs, eligibility and processes.  

Speakers are Patty Brewer, the U.S. SBA’s Office of International Trade export finance manager for Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming; Tal Williams, an SBA lending specialist for First Interstate Bank; and Abby Martinez, regional director for Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of the U.S. -- Western Region.

The SBA’s Office of International Trade supports small-business exporters and works with other federal agencies and public- and private-sector groups to assist small businesses that are new to exporting or experienced exporters. First Interstate Bank is a community bank headquartered in Billings, Mont. With 300 branches from Arizona to Wyoming, First Interstate Bank is well versed in the SBA’s 7a Loan Program, SBA Express loans and the SBA 504 Loan Program. EXIM Bank of the U.S. unlocks financing solutions for U.S. companies competing around the globe and fills in the gap for American businesses by equipping them with financing tools necessary to compete for global sales.  

In 2019, Wyoming companies exported more than $1.37 billion in goods to the world. Of the companies that export, 97 percent are small businesses.

The webinar training series is presented in collaboration with the Wyoming Business Council, the U.S. SBA, U.S. Department of Commerce and Wyoming APEX Accelerator. This series will help small businesses evaluate whether exporting might be right for them; help them develop an initial exporting plan; and explain how to access grant funding that may be available in Wyoming to help offset some of the costs of becoming export ready.

For more information, call Maureen Johnson, marketing, communication and database manager for the Wyoming SBDC Network, at (307) 343-0925 or email mjohn125@uwyo.edu.