Episode description

In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” Rural Export Center Director Heather Ranck highlights exporting opportunities and resources for rural companies. 

This North Dakota-based national research center is part of the U.S. Commerce Department, and focuses on assisting small businesses in rural parts of the country with market research and other support. 

“There are three main barriers to exporting for rural exporters: knowledge, connections and confidence,” she said. “And you can use data to tackle all three of those … We tie in our global network of staff that are at the U.S. embassies and consulates around the world with the U.S. Commercial Service to help tackle those barriers.” 

The center helps its clients identify promising export markets, spending more than $1 million per year on databases. Plus, it provides lists of potential buyers to U.S. companies using its network of contacts, as well as web presence analysis and other services, Ranck said. 

She discusses one example of a Wisconsin company that benefited from the center’s services: Ventris Learning, a provider of early childhood education curricula based in Sun Prairie. 

“We identified some potential partners, and they ended up signing a partnership with a company in Australia,” she said.