Larsen Introduces Legislation to Help Local Manufacturers Grow Jobs

Press Release

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) introduced legislation to help small manufacturers export their products- not their jobs- overseas. The global market presents a fast and ever growing market for U.S. exports. Nearly 3.7 million -- or 27 percent- of manufacturing jobs are supported by exports. In Rep Larsen's district alone there are 192 aerospace production suppliers and other vendors, and in Washington state there are over 100 boat manufacturers-many of which are small businesses exporting their products.

However, most U.S. small and medium sized manufacturers are dissuaded from entering the global market place due to financial roadblocks, conflicting information, Intellectual Property Rights infringements and cultural differences. The Small Manufacturers Export Initiative will build the infrastructure necessary to help these American Small and Medium Sized Businesses access export opportunities around the world.

"I want to see "Made in America' again and this bill is an important step in that direction," said Rep. Larsen. "The Small Manufacturers Export Initiative will help connect small and medium sized manufacturers with the tools and resources they need to access export opportunities around the world so they can ship their products- not their jobs- overseas."

The Small Manufacturers Export Initiative will provide resources to the Department of Commerce to assist manufacturers in finding and developing new markets for their products. These funds are projected to help create over 9,000 jobs. It also authorizes funds to be used by the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to expand the ExporTech program which helps manufacturing companies with the mechanics of exporting. The Department of Commerce projects the return on investment for the ExporTech program is 100:1.

"Impact Washington is pleased to enthusiastically endorse this bill. The ExporTech program, which was developed as a joint program between the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the U.S. Commercial Services, has already shown tremendous success here in Washington State and nationwide in assisting small and medium-sized manufacturers to rapidly enter and expand into global markets. It is a proven program that has the potential to be a crucial tool in significantly increasing U.S. exports," said John Vicklund, President of Impact Washington (formerly Washington Manufacturing Services), a non-profit organization that strengthens Washington manufacturers to make them more globally competitive.

"As a small business owner, I applaud Rep. Larsen's efforts to improve the infrastructure for small manufacturers who would like to begin exporting or increase their export sales," said Elric Saaski, CEO of Research International. "Washington State has a foreign trade assistance program, and it has been very helpful to us. A program of that type but national in scale, would be of great help to small businesses such as ours who are attempting to compete and sell products in international markets."

"While the benefits of exporting are many, especially in these turbulent economic times, the initial hurdles of entering this new market place can be intimidating and beyond the capabilities of many companies. This is a perfect area for our local, state and federal governments to assist business in becoming established in the global market," said Steven Becker, CEO of Aquatic Life Sciences Inc.

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