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CARES Act Funding Available for International Trade & Business Development Costs

The Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has been awarded CARES Act COVID-19 funding to increase professional business advising, and provide additional resources for education and training to small businesses experiencing challenges, including impending closure as a result of the pandemic. Outreach efforts for use of the funding is being focused on businesses owned by minorities, women, persons with disabilities, veterans and those located in rural areas.

The Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at SIUE serves businesses in Southern Illinois by providing individualized, no-cost export advising, identification of foreign buyers, agents and/or distributors through trade leads, international market analysis, and more.


Whether you are currently working to grow your international footprint, or have yet to consider international markets, their are multiple funding opportunities now available through the local SBDC's International Trade Center.

  • Website translations and search engine optimization for foreign markets

  • Translation services for marketing materials, such as brochures

  • Consulting firms to identify new international customers and distributors

  • Certification services for your products such as UL, CE Marking, etc

  • Current virtual trade shows and missions around the globe

  • International travel as travel abroad restrictions are lifted

  • Employee training for international business and export-related areas

For more information about CARES Act funding, contact the ITC by email International-Trade-Center@siue.edu or phone at (618) 650-3851, or visit siue.edu/business/itc.


Upcoming Webinars


Start & Grow Your Export Sales During COVID-19 Times

Tuesday, October 27, 2020 | 11am - Noon (Central Time)

Register here: (click here to register)


Roundtable Discussion: 6 Key Actions for Exporting

Thursday, October 29, 2020 | 10:30am - Noon (Central Time)

Register here: (click here to register)

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