On Wednesday, RCRC and the Northern California Center for International Trade Development (CITD) hosted the first in a series of Regional Trade Workshops scheduled throughout the state.  RCRC and CITD partnered with the Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority, and the U.S. Department of Commerce Sacramento U.S. Export Assistance Center to bring this free export services workshop to the mother lode region to teach local, small business owners the basics of starting or enhancing opportunities for exporting products and/or services from California’s rural counties to the global market.  

“While international trade opportunities are becoming more of a reality for rural business ventures, it’s often challenging to know where to start,” said RCRC Second Vice Chair Randy Hanvelt (Tuolumne).  “These RCRC workshops are designed to provide a high-level overview of the exporting process, and bring resources and funding opportunities to small business owners and entrepreneurs in California’s rural counties.  Thriving rural businesses make the California economy stronger, and more balanced.”

Additional workshops are in the planning stages.  Details on the panelists, including individual contact information, can be accessed here.  Individual panelists’ presentations can be accessed here.  Images from the Mother Lode Regional Trade Workshop can be accessed here.