International trade can be deep waters for any U.S. business to wade into.
To help small businesses in Jacksonville find overseas markets for their products and understand the dynamics of exporting, the Jacksonville Port Authority and two partners are offering help through their International Trade Certificate Program.
Developed in collaboration with the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida and the U.S. Commercial Service, the six-week program at UNF is designed to help businesses craft a plan to introduce their products to consumers or partners in foreign nations.
“This is something that is very intimidating,” said Debbie Magyar, the regional director of the SBDC at UNF.
“I’ve been a small-business owner and whenever you pivot, or need to make a change, it’s scary, and you don’t know who’s the right fit.”
For businesses with no experience in shipping products abroad, the program can help them find a starting point, Magyar said.
“With stepping into some type of a global change to your business, that requires a small-business owner to tap into potentially a lot of resources,” Magyar said.
“We are there to help guide their journey so that they do it in a structured format with a plan.”
The program costs $350 and offers sessions from 8 a.m. to noon Fridays from Oct. 3 to Nov. 7.
While President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imported products have caused economic uncertainty for traders bringing products into the U.S., the U.S. International Trade Commission reports that the value of exports from the U.S. is as high as it has been since a 2022 peak after the pandemic slowdown.
To assist Jacksonville businesses gain a share of the export market, the local partnership program provides participants with resources to start in the field, learn the “nuts and bolts” of the process, work with case studies and network with professionals also entering the export business, according to the program’s website.
Participants will be able to connect with international partners who can help with exporting to different countries. Examples include trade regulations, payment and currency standards, connections with embassies and international officials and international marketing.
“We can even help with projections and conversations ahead of their final decision-making process,” Magyar said.
“In addition to working with our small business consultants and coming through programs such as this, they’re exposed to this new audience of professionals that are in this space where they can get the correct answers.”
The course will also prepare participants for the Certified Global Business Professional exam to earn that certification.
Offered by the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators, the certification demonstrates proficiency in global business management, global marketing, supply chain management and trade finance.
The certification allows holders to use the credential logo and wordmark on resumes and business cards to signify to employers and prospective partners that they have informed themselves about international trade and are ready to do business.
Not just any company will be eligible for the program. Interested businesses must operate profitably in the U.S., have management committed to the export process, make their goods domestically and be able to make the necessary investments to export their goods.
“We want to make this opportunity available to anybody who’s been thinking about this as an opportunity for their small business, because this is a pretty big undertaking,” Magyar said. “What we’re hoping to get out of it is to help our small businesses find their starting point.”
For more information and registration in the program, visit unf.edu/sbdc/ITCP-Export-Series.html.