Entrepreneurs and business owners from the central mountain region in Colorado received valuable information about navigating the international export process at a business workshop today hosted by Senator Michael Bennet and regional groups.

Local partners included Colorado Mountain College, Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, Northwest Colorado Small Business Development Center, Rifle Area Chamber of Commerce, Rifle Regional Economic Development Corporation, Roaring Fork Business Resource Center, Vail Valley Partnership, and The Colorado Bar Association Intellectual Property Section.

The workshop, entitled “Beyond Colorado: How to Bring Your Products and Services to the Global Marketplace,” was designed to help Colorado businesses looking to expand internationally. Last year, Colorado set records as manufactured, agricultural and mineral exports grew by more than 10 percent increasing from $7.3 billion to $8.1 billion.

“There is a lot of opportunity for entrepreneurs across the state to expand their business and export their goods and services abroad,” Bennet said.  “These workshops are helping Colorado business owners connect with the resources available to them so they can tap into their economic potential in the global marketplace.”

Businesses in attendance at the event today ran the spectrum from handcraft ski companies to cutting edge technology start-ups. The event featured panelists from the the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, and World Trade Center Denver. Experts provided information on state and federal resources available for entrepreneurs, ranchers, farmers, and business owners looking to expand internationally, as well as advice on protecting intellectual property.

“This workshop was really helpful in showing me all the exporting resources available for businesses like mine. I didn’t know these resources existed and now I know where to find the answers,” Matt Cudmore, Owner and Ski Designer of Meier Skis, said. “I’m also now much more aware of the questions I should be asking when considering exporting overseas.”

Today’s workshop was one in a series held throughout the state. Other workshops have been held in Colorado Springs, Denver, Grand Junction, Fort Collins, and Pueblo. A future workshop is being planned for Durango.

For more information please visit the Beyond Colorado website.