BILL REQ. #:  S-1303.1 

Read first time 02/02/2007.   Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Management.

     AN ACT Relating to expanding export assistance statewide; and adding a new section to chapter 43.31 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW to read as follows:
     The legislature finds that currently the overwhelming majority of companies assisted by the department of community, trade, and economic development in export sales are located in the Puget Sound or Spokane regions and that there is a need for better outreach to all areas of the state in order to help new-to-export companies compete in the global marketplace. The legislature also finds that there exists a need to locate more overseas offices in regions of strategic importance to the state.
     (1) The department shall expand its export assistance services to businesses throughout the state by establishing partnerships with local organizations, including small business development centers, associate development organizations, ports, and local governments.
     (2) The new export assistance partners will target both new-to-export and existing exporters to provide seminars and one-on-one counseling to owners and managers of small and medium-sized companies that have not previously exported to enable them to: Determine whether exporting is appropriate for them; develop their capacity for engaging in exporting; begin the export process; and more successfully utilize other export assistance available to them.
     (3) The department shall hire an outreach coordinator for the new export assistance partners. The duties of the outreach coordinator include: Developing training curricula; providing training to local partners; serving as liaison with the Seattle, Spokane, and foreign offices; providing information; and coordinating state outreach with the new foreign assistance partners.
     (4) The department shall create a foreign direct investment program. The program shall include a program manager position and business recruitment managers. Program staff shall work with associate development organizations and foreign offices. Program staff are responsible for the following:
     (a) The implementation of new investment attraction tools, such as development, translation, and printing of brochures and other marketing materials;
     (b) Adapting the choosewashington.com web site to meet the needs of foreign companies and investors by providing translation materials in German, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese; and
     (c) Training personnel in state foreign offices in ways to promote foreign investment in Washington.