As your representative in Albany, I am always trying to find ways to help locally-owned businesses grow and thrive. When that happens, local jobs are created and everybody benefits.

One great way for a local business to grow, though seldom talked about, is by expanding their sales and services to markets outside our country. The federal International Trade Administration notes that more than 70 percent of the world’s purchasing power lies outside of the United States of America. For a business owner looking to bolster their bottom line, that’s a lot of potential customers. Yet, many small and medium-sized businesses shy away from these opportunities because of various obstacles, including language barriers and a fear of risk. They may not know about the many resources available to help businesses overcome these obstacles.

Recently, I held a series of roundtables across the state to provide a platform for members of the business community to engage state and local trade experts to discuss these resources and other issues. As the chair of the State Assembly’s Subcommittee on Export Trade, I also wanted to make sure we are working together to pool our collective knowledge and improve exports.

We found that one simple yet profound way to help a business owner tap into global markets is by pairing them with export trade specialists. Initiatives led by Global New York on the state level and the Central New York International Business Alliance (CNYIBA) on the local level, are working to do just that.

Global New York and the Small Business Administration currently administer the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant program. These grants can help businesses pay to do many things needed to succeed overseas, from translating webpages to attending international trade shows. Global New York is also finalizing the details on a $10 million state grant program dedicated to providing similar services, including market planning, product adaptation and market certification, which enable small and medium-sized businesses to develop their export capacity.

Here in Central New York, the CNYIBA is preparing to launch an Export Catalyst Pilot Program that matches export specialists with companies to provide analysis, support and training to help them gain the skills and knowledge they’ll need to succeed in the national and international markets.

Through this and other efforts, the Central New York region has taken steps to improve export trade in recent years. And more critical steps are going to happen in the years ahead, as part of the Upstate Revitalization Initiative will be dedicated to establishing an inland port – though the exact location is still being discussed. Through a state investment of $40 million, the inland port will support our economy, business owners and workers, while vastly improving our region’s export trade capabilities by providing a more efficient connection between Central New York and the international gateway that is the Port of New York and New Jersey.

The recent roundtable discussions I hosted in Syracuse, Rochester and Saratoga Springs also served as a chance to identify other barriers facing businesses across the state, and there’s much more that can be done.

As we begin the next legislative session, I look forward to continuing my work with community leaders and business owners to find meaningful legislative solutions to make New York more business friendly and help our families succeed.

As always, my door is open. If you have any questions or concerns regarding local business, export trade or any other community issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me at StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling 452-1115.