To the Illinois Export Community:

The health and safety of our employees, clients, partners and communities is our top priority. Given the developing COVID-19 outbreak, we have made some recent changes to the way we serve U.S. exporters.

Our global network of experienced trade specialists will be working virtually and is looking forward to connecting with you via email, conference call, Skype, or video conference to discuss your international business plans. 

Know that we are here for you whether you have questions about the status of an event, need to cancel a service, or are checking on the status of an export market. To learn more about our virtual services, visit Trade.gov/virtual-services.

Our thoughts are with you and the global business community, and we remain firmly committed to serving the needs of U.S. exporters like you. We will continue to evaluate options to ensure we can deliver on the objectives of our mission, and that we consider the safety of all parties involved. Connect with us on social media @USCommercialSvc for our latest updates and resources.

We look forward to working with you soon.

Please contact your local Trade Specialist for further assistance:

• Hovan Asdourian, Office Director - Hovan.Asdourian@trade.gov
• Dan Kim, Senior International Trade Specialist - Kyungsoo.Kim@trade.gov Industries: Advanced Manufacturing; Environmental Technologies; Transportation Equipment & Services; Automotive; Railroad
• Haley Milan, International Trade Specialist - Haley.Milan@trade.gov
  Industries: Agribusiness; Food Processing/Packaging Equipment and Hotel/Restaurant Equipment; Consumer Goods; Education & Training; Apparel/Textiles; Publishing, Media & Entertainment; Printing Equipment
• Monica Toporkiewicz, Senior International Trade Specialist - Monica.Toporkiewicz@trade.gov
  Industries: Healthcare & Life Sciences; Chemicals
• Richard Carpenter, Senior International Trade Specialist - Richard.Carpenter@trade.gov
  Industries: Aerospace; Safety & Security; Design & Construction Services; Defense; Information & Communication Technology; Energy; Plastics; Travel/Tourism; Financial Services
• Elizabeth Ahern, Director - Elizabeth.Ahern@trade.gov
  Industries: All industries in downstate Illinois (south of I-80) 
  
  

For more information on coronavirus, please visit: coronavirus.gov.

Export News

SBA Providing Disaster Assistance Loans for Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The SBA is working directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and non-profits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Small business owners in many states are now eligible to apply. 

Apply for disaster assistance 

Visit sba.gov/coronavirus for updates on the loan program, guidance for businesses and employers, and other SBA resources. 

EXIM Board Takes United Action in Response to COVID-19 to Support U.S. Exporters and Jobs with Unprecedented Financing Flexibility

To bolster American businesses and workers and their families in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) global pandemic, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) board of directors underscored its strong support for new initiatives to inject liquidity into the market and give maximum financing flexibility to facilitate sales of U.S. goods and services abroad.

Specifically, EXIM’s board of directors, through its unanimous adoption of a resolution during an open board meeting with the public via teleconference, affirmed its support of the following temporary EXIM programs to provide relief to U.S. businesses their buyers, financial institutions, and American workers negatively impacted by COVID-19:

• Bridge Financing Program;
• Pre-Delivery / Pre-Export Financing Program;
• Supply Chain Financing Guarantee Program; and
• Working Capital Guarantee Program

More detail on each initiative can be found here: see EXIM fact sheet.

On March 12, EXIM announced initial relief measures—waivers, deadline extensions, streamlined processing, flexibility—for its working capital loan guarantee and export credit insurance programs to its customers (primarily U.S. small businesses) for an initial period of 30 days. Please feel free to reach out to one of the EXIM program representatives listed here: https://www.exim.gov/fact-sheet-exim-covid-19-assistance

For more information about EXIM, please visit www.exim.gov.

Webinars

March 31, 2020 @ 1:00 pm Central - Foreign Commercial Service Officer Assessment - Webinar

The 2020 Recruitment Cycle will open to accept applications for the Foreign Commercial Service Officer position later this spring. An informational webinar will be held on March 31, 2020 about the assessment process. You will receive more details on the webinar and the CS Assessment after registration. Cost There is no fee to participate in this webinar.

For more information: Individuals with an interest in a Foreign Commercial Service Officer career can send an email to CSCareers@trade.gov toreceive further email updates.

Register today

March 31, 2020 @ 12pm Central: Working with Federal and State Policymakers – How to Continue Advocacy and Communication During the COVID-19 Crisis

Learn how to continue to stay connected with important federal and state policy officials during this unique time. Now more than ever, it’s critical that your company, business or trade association stay connected to those that will be making impactful decisions about your products, supply chains and business areas. Learn about specific online and non-in person strategies to stay front of mind and present with policymakers, elected officials, staff and government procurement officials. Please join the U.S. Department of Commerce in partnership with the Connecticut District Export Council for our special topic conference call series. This series of conference calls will run throughout the Spring 2020.Register here . NO COST. 

April 9, 2020 @ 12:00pm Central: Business Opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago - Webinar 

Webinar, sponsored by the U.S. Commercial Service, will discuss business opportunities for U.S. firms in Trinidad and Tobago.  12:00 p.m. CDT.  Fee: $35.  For information & registration, please see: https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/event/editWebReg.do?SmartCode=0QCZ