Training is provided to support the changing needs of employees in the international trade industry. Short, not-for- credit training can provide employees with the information needed to be successful in their chosen industry. County-specific training and assistance in technical areas is provided while minimizing time lost on the job. Employees can also take advantage of traditional education by enrolling in the Long Beach City College International Business program to secure an Associate of Arts degree (AA). The program requires the completion of 24 units of instruction encompassing the areas of International Marketing, Business, and Accounting, as well as related electives. Employees and international students with desire to train on-line have access to numerous for credits courses and a host of job aides. All services can be delivered on contract to organizations and employers who wish to receive closed, on-site, customized international trade services.

Dear Valued Food Client:

The California Centers for International Trade Development are offering an excellent opportunity for new-to-export minority or women-owned food and agricultural processors/manufacturers and growers.  The Export Readiness Training program is a combination of short seminars and one-on-one consulting with private sector industry experts.  This program is valued at $15,000 but participants will only pay $325.

Applications are currently being accepted. Please visit our website at: www.wusata.org/ert.
If you have any questions, please contact us at
(562) 938-5018 or at (888) 638-7888.
Feel free to e-mail us at:  citd@lbcc.edu.

This program is being brought to you by the Emerging Markets Office of the United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA), and the California Centers for International Trade Development (CITD), in coordination with the California Department of Food and Agriculture-Agricultural Export Program.

The Export / Import Readiness Training Program will help your business successfully export, by developing an export business plan; taking steps to become export savvy and by participating in an export event (e.g.: a trade mission or show, an international sale or other event or activity suited to your product and business). The Export Readiness Training Program will provide the information you need to become a successful exporter.

The program consists of nine sessions:

Session One: Success in Int'l Trade
Session Two: International Marketing Plan (Part 1)
Session Three: International Marketing Plan (Part 2)
Session Four: International Trade Finance
Session Five: Transportation & Documentation
Session Six: Export & Import Regulations
Session Seven: Legal Aspects
Session Eight: Negotiations
Session Nine: Culture

How to Participate:

Applications will be reviewed and applicants will be chosen to participate by a committee comprised of individuals from the Emerging Markets Program, WUSATA, the private sector, the State Department of Agriculture, and the training provider.
You can apply online at:  www.wusata.org/ert.

Participant Qualifications:

The ERT program is open to businesses that:

1- Have an exportable US food or agricultural product,
2- Have a product already available in the domestic market,
3- Have a minimum of $500,000 in domestic sales,
4- Have less than one year of active experience as an exporter,
5- Have staff willing to commit time and resources to actively enter an export market within one year from the conclusion of the ERT program,
6- Have the drive and desire to attend the training program and fulfill the work requirements, and
7- Have 500 or a fewer employees for growers and processors or 100 or fewer employees for brokers & distributors.

The program is designed to provide Export Readiness Training to small businesses that meet the above criteria. The Program has a particular focus on meeting the needs of underserved and rural communities (minority and women owned businesses).

Participant Limitations:

Program participants must adhere to any and all guidelines, regulations, etc. established for participation in a US government program.

Participant products must have a minimum of 51% US content excluding water and packaging.

All products must be agricultural in nature (i.e.: grown, harvested or cultivated). Processed food products and products from Ag related industries will be considered for participation in this program.

Tobacco products are excluded from participation in this program.

Locations:

The training will take place at the following locations:

Central CA - Fresno
Southern CA - Long Beach
Northern CA - Sacramento

For more information about this program, contact us.

Last update: 05/05/05