• Global videoconferencing services for small-to-medium sized firms looking to leverage the County’s infrastructure to establish international business connections.  
• Matchmaking and business networking opportunities through special events and one-on-one sessions organized by the County and its partners.  
• Access to established network of private and public sector contacts in strategic locations around the world, including China, Italy, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. In China, firms can leverage the County’s “Sister City” relationship with Jingzhou, China and cooperative agreements signed with e.g. Pudong New Area of Shanghai, the Shandong Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Shanghai Pudong Productivity Center and the city of Wuxi.    
• Participation in County-led global trade missions and inclusion in marketing materials designed to promote Westchester-based firms globally.
• The Westchester Desk, which operates out of the Italian Center for Commercial Affairs, to promote business opportunities, industrial cooperation, and cultural and technological exchange between key cities in Italy and Westchester County.
• Free initial membership for local technology firms in US Channels, a web-based platform designed to connect key stakeholders in the global technology market.

Contact: Scott Fernqvist 
Westchester County Government
148 Martine Avenue, Suite 908
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: 914-995-3078
Fax: 914-995-2999
E-mail: sef1@westchestergov.com
Website: http://www.westchestergov.com/ 

World Trade Council of Westchester
The World Trade Council of Westchester is the international trade forum of The Westchester County Association, a business-based membership organization. The mission of the World Trade Council is to promote and facilitate international trade for companies within Westchester and the lower Hudson Valley. This includes assisting Westchester companies expand their international presence as well as highlighting Westchester County as a venue for international investment and partnerships.

Specifically, the World Trade Council of Westchester:

• Provides a forum for networking and business development for those companies and individuals involved in international business.
• Works closely with public sector resources such as the Department of Commerce’s Westchester Export Assistance Center, the International Division of Empire State Development, and Westchester County’s Office for Economic Development. 
• Maintains a database of private sector international business resources such as banks, insurance providers, lawyers, transportation specialists, translators and consultants.
• Hosts seminars and programs addressing a wide range of timely international business issues.
• Partners with other international trade groups in the region and participates in regional international trade programs such as the Averell Harriman International Trade Awards.
• Publishes the Globe, the international component of the WCA E-Connections online newsletter.

Contact: Amy J. Allen
World Trade Council of Westchester/Westchester County Association
707 Westchester Avenue, Suite 213
White Plains, NY  10604
Tel. 914-948-6444
Fax 914-948-6913
E-mail: aallen@westchester.org
Website: http://www.westchester.org/

Westchester Export Assistace Center
The Westchester Export Assistance Center is your local branch of the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, a federal government agency dedicated to helping small-to-medium sized New York companies (located in the Hudson Valley, Capital Region and North Country) develop international markets.  Our trade specialists work with companies to help get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets.

The Westchester Export Assistance Centers is part of an worldwide network of global professionals. We have 165 offices in 82 countries throughout the world.

Our services include:

• World class market research
• Trade events that promote your product or service to qualified buyers 
• Introductions to qualified buyers and distributors 
• Counseling and advocacy through every step of the export process 
• Export finance resources

This is your one-stop for information on federal government resources for exporters, including export financing programs from the Export-Import Bank and Small Business Administration.  The Export-Import Bank provides a variety of export finance assistance including export credit insurance, pre-export financing through working capital guaranteed loans to exporters, and medium- and long-term loans and guarantees to overseas buyers.  The SBA finances the short-term and cyclical working-capital needs of small businesses and administers business loan programs to help qualified small businesses obtain financing.

For more information on how we can help your company succeed in the global marketplace, please visit www.buyusa.gov/westchester

Contact: Joan Kanlian
Westchester Export Assistance Center
707 Westchester Avenue, Suite 209
White Plains, NY 10604
Tel: 914-682-6712
Fax: 914-682-6698
E-mail: office.westchester@mail.doc.gov
Website: www.buyusa.gov/westchester

Empire State Development
Tap into New York State’s specialized resources to achieve your global sales potential. New York State helps businesses expand their international reach by offering them unsurpassed access to markets, services and expertise. Whether a business is new to exporting or an experienced exporter seeking expansion to new markets, Empire State Development (ESD), the state’s lead economic development agency, offers a range of export assistance services to help increase international sales of goods and services. ESD’s innovative technical and financial assistance strategies help individual firms, business groups and industry clusters expand in New York State through sales to global markets in collaboration with the private sector, trade associations, industry organizations, universities, federal agencies and other partners.

Empire State Development helps New York State businesses spark international growth through:

• Export counseling, including customized assessments, education, advice and referrals;
• The Export Marketing Assistance Service Program (EMAS) to help businesses locate and qualify international agents and distributors;
• The Global Export Market Service Program (GEMS) to help businesses develop and execute successful export market entry strategies;
• Participation in targeted trade shows and trade missions and organization of business development missions to help businesses increase international market intelligence and sales;
• An international network of trade offices in such key markets as Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Japan, Israel, and South Africa to help New York businesses access global market opportunities and foster international strategic alliances.

Contact: Charles Radier
Director of Business Development, Dutchess & Rockland Counties
Mid-Hudson Area Dir., International Trade
Empire State Development
33 Airport Center Drive, Suite 201
New Windsor, NY 12553
Tel: 845-567-4882
Fax: 845-567-6085
E-mail  cradier@empire.state.ny.us
Website: http://www.empire.state.ny.us/International/

Hudson Valley Technical Development Center
The Hudson Valley Technology Development Center (HVTDC) helps small to medium-sized manufacturers, businesses, inventors, and entrepreneurs in the seven-county Hudson Valley area to become more competitive in the marketplace. HVTDC provides direct assistance or locates outside resources to help with:

• Business development
• Operations
• Sales and marketing
• Workforce development
• Technology advancement and integration
• Entrepreneurial initiatives.

HVTDC is a not-for-profit economic development organization that receives significant financial support from the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). HVTDC serves as NYSTAR®’s designated Regional Technology Development Center for the Hudson Valley and is one of nearly 350 MEP locations across the country that works directly with regional companies to increase their competitiveness and profitability. Founded in 1988, HVTDC also receives funding from the United States Department of Commerce.

Contact: Thomas G. Philipps
Executive Director
Hudson Valley Technology Development Center, Inc.
300 Westage Business Center, Suite 280, Fishkill, NY 12524
Tel: 845-896-6934
Fax: 845-896-7006
E-mail: tom.phillips@hvtdc.org
Website: http://www.hvtdc.org/