World Trade Center (WTC) San Diego is an affiliate of San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC), a privately funded 501c6 nonprofit, funded by more than 200 private and public sector partners in San Diego County. EDC develops and executes an inclusive economic development strategy that maximizes the economic prosperity and global competitiveness of the region. WTC San Diego serves as the international arm of the EDC and focuses on cultivating a pipeline of export-ready firms in the region, maximizing foreign investment opportunities, and enhancing San Diego’s global brand and identity.

 

MetroConnect Export Assistance Program

WTC San Diego’s flagship program is the MetroConnect export assistance program. Now in its fifth year, applicants go through a competitive application process, in which 15 companies will each receive a $5,000 cash grant, discounted international flights, complimentary translation software, access to a mentor network, and connections to international contacts. The top performing companies are invited back for a pitch competition to determine who will take home the $25,000 grand prize.  

In the first four years of MetroConnect, the program supported 65 companies and awarded $790,000 in grants. Those same companies generated more than $85 million in new export sales while they participated in the program. MetroConnect companies also saw a net increase of 269 employees in the region, 18 new overseas facilities, and signed 500 new international contracts.

 

San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center

Building on the success of MetroConnect, WTC joined the San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, as the sole center focused on export specialty services. As an officially recognized small business development center, WTC now receives federal and state funding to expand its export advising services to a much broader and diverse pool of companies across San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Some of the services offered through the Export SBDC include export education workshops, curated global market intelligence, and one-on-one counseling sessions with consultants boasting deep domain expertise.

San Diego businesses interested in receiving export counseling through WTC San Diego (aka Export SBDC) can sign up through the SBDC portal at https://sdsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/signup

 

 

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