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ShareU.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today joined a group of federal, state and local dignitaries in announcing the establishment of the International Trade Center of Mid-Michigan (ITC). The ITC will be housed in the offices of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and will serve to support efforts to expand international trade opportunities in the region.
"As a member of the President's Export Council, I am looking forward to the establishment of an International Trade Center in Mid-Michigan, which will foster relationships between Mid-Michigan businesses and international companies," said Sen. Stabenow. "The establishment of this center will help businesses in this region have a greater presence in global markets and increase exports of Michigan and U.S. products and services."
"The ITC will play a significant role in assisting Michigan entrepreneurs in accessing and utilizing the wide variety of international related resources in mid-Michigan and elsewhere in the state," said Thomas McGuire, Director of the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Offices in Lansing and Grand Rapids, which is part of the International Trade Administration of U.S. Department of Commerce. "This is a significant step forward for this region in its efforts to become more competitive in international markets."
The ITC will be the single point of contact for information related to international business, leveraging the existing resources and partnerships in the Greater Lansing region and beyond. The ITC will provide regional businesses with a complete range of services to support the process of international trade from contact to contract. In addition to helping businesses already involved in exporting improve and expand their arrangements, ITC will provide research support for new markets and products and referral assistance for export related activities, licensing, certification, legal and financial consultation, logistics and customs issues.
"Entering international markets can be an intimidating venture and business people need expert counsel and support to guide them through the process," said Tomas Hult, Director of the International Business Center at Michigan State University. "The International Trade Center will offer a vast pool of international commerce related resources that will prove to be a real asset to businesses entering or expanding their international trade presence."
The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) has worked with a number of founding community partners for the past year towards the establishment of the ITC. Other organizations involved include: Capital Region Airport Authority, City of Lansing Economic Development Corporation, City of East Lansing Economic Development Corporation, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC, Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Greater Lansing United Nations Association, Lansing Economic Area Partnership, Michigan Manufacturers Association, Michigan State University's International Business Center, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
"The opening of the International Trade Center lets the world know that mid-Michigan is committed to being a significant player in the global marketplace," said Brent Case, LRCC Director of Foreign Trade Zone/International Market Development. "The ITC represents another major development in this region's international strategy."
"We are delighted to be one of the founding organizations in this very important effort to help mid-Michigan businesses expand to foreign markets," said Jean Schtokal, international attorney with Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC. "We have worked with many of our clients to use the US economic downturn as an opportunity to seek out foreign markets and partners for their products and services."
"All the global resources in the community have come together to make the International Trade Center a reality," said Chris Holman, publisher of the Greater Lansing Business Monthly and a founding member of the ITC. "This is a significant step forward that only happened because of the willingness of so many community partners to work together for the good of the region."
The establishment of the International Trade Center is the latest in a series of developments in the region's international program. In 2008, Capital Region International Airport (CRIA) was named a U.S. Port of Entry, now known as Port Lansing. In 2009, CRIA received a Foreign Trade Zone designation from the U.S. Department of Commerce. In February 2010, The U.S. Commercial Service's Grand Rapids Export Assistance Center began operations in Lansing which is also housed at the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. Businesses can contact Brent Case at 517.853.6464 or visit www.lansingchamber.org for more information regarding the ITC.
