Kentucky receives funds for business exports

According to BizJournals, Kentucky is one of 47 states, three territories and the District of Columbia that will split $30 million in federal funding to promote small business export initiatives.

Kentucky will receive $275,802 from the U.S. Small Business Administration program, which is expected to help small business promotions across the country. The funding will be used by the Kentucky Office of International Trade to teach entrepreneurs how they can sell products overseas and provide an increased level of access to export development service, trade shows and trade commissions, the source reported.

The funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration program is in conjunction with the State Trade and Export Promotion initiative, which was started last year and funded with $60 million from the Small Business Jobs Act.

“With 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside of the United States, exporting gives small businesses the opportunity to reach new markets, increase sales and create jobs,” SBA administrator Karen Mills said in a news release. “The second round of STEP funding will be instrumental in helping small businesses start or expand their exporting opportunities so they can create an economy built to last.”

According to Neighborhood Notes, small businesses should all think about starting a blog to attract more consumers to their business.

“Blogs can give businesses a lot of power to build the company’s credibility,” says John McPhee, vice president of Formic Media. “Talking about the latest and greatest things happening within their company or industry can help turn the blogger or company into a pioneer or thought leader. Everyone wants to work with those people who provide value and are on the cutting edge.”