North Idaho SBDC Director William Jhung was recently interviewed by the Coeur d’Alene Press in an article titled “Local, looking global” to share his insight on Idaho exporting and expand on opportunities for small businesses to get involved in exportation.
Data shows that of 598,000 Idaho businesses, only 1,534, just .25%, export. Jhung and the Idaho SBDC are taking steps to change that.
“We have some great businesses and they should be exporting and we’re going to help them do that,” he said.
The SBDC strategy is to assist business leaders “at every phase of their businesses’ journey to help them build world-class businesses.”
Consulting service areas at the North Idaho SBDC currently include manufacturing, technology, distribution, service, hospitality, retail, E-commerce and government contracting, but they are now looking to expand into export consulting by hiring a part-time export coach.
This position will have a direct impact on small business with job duties including:
• Design and deliver practical business workshops to assist business owners/leaders gain insight and resources to develop and execute export strategies.
• Coach individual small business owners and entrepreneurs analyzing non-export business problems, developing solutions and providing access to resources.
• Design and deliver practical non-export business workshops to assist business owners gain insight and resources to improve their business.
“If we can help them do that (export locally, regionally, nationally and globally), it’s going to create a stronger economic engine in North Idaho,” Jhung said.
Read the full article here.