By VICKI JOHNSON
Ohio Correspondent

FREMONT, Ohio — Ohio producers looking for new markets for farm products can learn about exporting during a workshop Aug. 2 in Fremont.
The Ohio Department of Development’s (ODOD) Global Markets Division, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County and Sandusky County Economic Development Corp., will conduct a half-day workshop on export opportunities for small businesses in the state. The workshop would apply to agricultural products.

Officials from ODOD, the Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Commercial Service and Tiffin University will give presentations about export programs and services available to small businesses. The workshop is for business owners and other personnel whose companies are already in business producing a high-quality product or service and are looking at exporting for the first time or already exporting.

Typically, such businesses may want to access the new export initiative programs and services available from the SBA, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the ODOD and the U.S. Export Import Bank of the United States.
To become an exporter, a business needs a product or service that can be adapted for a foreign market, flexibility in allowing a change in marketing perspective and a commitment to trading internationally. The workshop will discuss the profit potential and marketing opportunities, as well as potential sales growth, extended product life cycles, the offset of seasonal production lags, lowering operating costs and making the company more profitable and competitive.

There is no charge to attend. To register, contact Amy Matt, Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County, at 419-332-1591 or by email at communications @scchamber.org