Friday, July 1, 2011PIERRE, S.D. –South Dakota’s small businesses have a new resource to help them break into the international market. Tomorrow, South Dakota’s International Trade Center (ITC) Office opens its doors for business in Sioux Falls. The ITC Office provides one-on-one consulting in international trade techniques, procedures and opportunities. The office also offers international business and financial plan assessments and will work with the Great Plains International Trade Association (GPITA) to host training seminars. The ITC Office is part of the Small Business Development Center network. It provides services statewide and charges no fees for consulting services. Gov. Dennis Daugaard says the ITC Office is designed to help South Dakota businesses tap into new export markets. “More than 90 percent of the world’s population lives outside of the United States,” the Governor said. “Although many South Dakota companies already export their goods, the international market provides a huge growth opportunity for South Dakota and its business community.” More than 420 South Dakota companies are already engaged in exporting activities. Annually, more than $1 billion in finished products are exported internationally from South Dakota. Those exports include manufactured food, transportation and electrical equipment, and fabricated metal products. The ITC Office is the result of a partnership between the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the U.S. Small Business Administration, GPITA, the South Dakota Small Business Development Center, and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. John Brown, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration, Slater Barr, President of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, and Bruce Viau, President, GPITA, agree this partnership is a boon for all those involved. Brown said, “We are excited about this new resource for small businesses that want to start or expand export operations. The ITC Office will help these businesses reduce freight costs, improve delivery operations and better their bottom lines.” “Sioux Falls serves as South Dakota’s only Foreign Trade Zone and will benefit from increased international activity. It just makes sense for the Development Foundation to encourage growth in this area,” said Barr. “The Great Plains International Trade Association is a good fit with the ITC as we can offer the next level in expertise and training to the importers and exporters in the upper Great Plains area. What starts with the ITC programs and services can be expanded and complemented by the training and experience of the GPITA organization,” said Viau. The ITC Office is located in the U.S. Customs Building at 1 West Weather Lane, Sioux Falls, and can be reached by calling 605-338-3424. The ITC Office is open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, visit www.usd.edu/sbdc. -30-