Department of the Commerce
Incentive: The Sustainable Manufacturing Initiative (SMI) is a publicly accessible Web site that provides resources to help companies implement sustainable business practices that increase energy efficiency, reduce waste, and pollution and help them better manage resource and material inputs.
The SMI Sustainable Business Clearinghouse is the central government portal for businesses to access federal and state-level resources that support U.S. industry’s sustainability needs. And, SMARTs (Sustainable Manufacturing American Regional Tours) educate and inform companies...
Provides substantial tax incentives for businesses that hire local residents, upgrade their equipment needs, and build or rehabilitate commercial property, in designated Renewal Communities (RCs) and Empowerment Zones (EZs).
For additional information, go to: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/economicdevelopment/programs/rc/businesses/
The Advocacy Center
Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
The Advocacy Center provides technical assistance, counseling, and advocacy services to U.S. companies exporting their goods and services overseas. The office advocates on behalf of U.S. firms seeking to win foreign procurements and tenders abroad by bringing all appropriate federal government resources to bare. The Advocacy Center works directly with U.S. Embassy personnel worldwide and other key federal agencies, to ensure that U.S. firms can compete on a level playing field with international competitors....
The Export Yellow Pages (EYP) program provides affordable export trade advertising for U.S. firms, to attract new export trade contacts. It is an electronic directory of U.S. producers and export service providers.
On the EYP online directory, U.S. firms can register basic information from their company profile for free or they can upgrade their ad for a fee. Company profiles are accessible by international traders worldwide.
Eligibility: Any U.S. firm interested in new export trade contacts can take advantage of this Commerce Department referral tool by visiting exportyellowpages.com....
Department of the Commerce
Incentive: The Office of Intellectual Property Rights (OIPR) provides counseling, special programs and tools to help U.S. companies to protect their intellectual property (such as patents or trademarks or copyrights) abroad. In addition, the OIPR supports the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) in U.S. trade negotiations.
The OIPR helps companies overcome problems they face protecting and enforcing their intellectual property rights overseas. The office develops trade programs and tools to help U.S. businesses and citizens protect and enforce their IPR...
Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) is a federal program that provides financial assistance to manufacturers and service firms affected by import competition. Sponsored by the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), this cost-sharing federal assistance program helps pay for projects that improve firms' competitiveness.
Projects are aimed at improving a firm's competitive position.
Trade Information Center (TIC)
Department of the Commerce
International Trade Administration
Incentive: The Trade Information Center (TIC) provides export counseling to U.S. businesses and individuals by phone and via the Web. The TIC provides direct counseling to U.S. exporters and potential exporters. Also, the TIC is staffed by trade professionals with expertise in specific regions and industry sectors dedicated to working directly with U.S. companies to facilitate exports. A U.S. business may receive counseling on topics ranging from accessing foreign markets for the first time,...
Trade Missions Program
Department of the Commerce
International Trade Administration
Incentive: The International Trade Administration (ITA) Trade Missions Program offers a proven, cost-effective tool for helping U.S. companies learn first-hand about global markets. The Trade Missions Program recruits U.S. companies whose goal is to export their products and services.
These U.S.
U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs)
Department of the Commerce
International Trade Administration
Incentive: U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) provide front-line outreach and service operations for U.S. exporters. There are International Trade specialists based in more than 100 USEACs located across the United States and Puerto Rico. The centers assist U.S. businesses that are new to exporting, want to expand to additional export markets, or want to increase their market share in existing markets.
Through the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Program, a company can reduce their production, transaction, and logistics-related costs.
Foreign-trade zones are secure areas under supervision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection that are considered outside the customs territory of the United States for the purposes of duty payment.
Located in or near customs ports of entry, they are the U.S. version of what are known internationally as free trade zones.
The FTZ Program licenses local agencies in all 50 states and Puerto Rico to establish FTZ locations where foreign merchandise can be imported...