What: Made in Rural America Regional Forum

When: August 11th, 2014 beginning at 10:00am

Where: Mazatzal Hotel in Payson, AZ

By Julie Murphree, Arizona Farm Bureau: Where will you be next Monday, August 11 at 10:00am? If you’re an entrepreneur wanting to expand your business, you might consider attending a forum hosted by the White House Rural Council. Certainly our farmers and ranchers invested in Arizona agriculture and expanding markets might want to check out this free forum.

Is your product a candidate for international markets?

An export and investment initiative, the White House Rural Council’s Made in Rural America is inviting entrepreneurs to participate in a regional forum on expanding international market opportunities. This forum will help rural firms understand ways to grow their business by finding new customers overseas or selling more to their existing international customers.  Hosted by the National Association of Counties, Gila County, Tonto Apache Tribe, Town of Payson, Town of Star Valley, and Gila County Industrial Development Authority the half day forum will take place on the morning of August 11th at Mazatzal Hotel in Payson, Arizona. Morning coffee and registration start at 9am with the discussion beginning at 10am.

“These rural forums are dedicated to promoting rural export opportunities,” says Jacque Griffin, assistant county manager for Gila County administration. “And providing entrepreneurs the information about the resources available to help expand that export product.”

Griffin adds, “The forums are designed to give nuts and bolts information to entrepreneurs,” explaining that earlier forums profiled entrepreneurs who sold various food and manufactured products to local markets but with guidance expanded to international markets.  

The regional forum in Payson is the fourth of five across the country that highlight federal, state, and local resources to help rural businesses and community leaders take advantage of export opportunities and access new customers and markets abroad. More information on the Made in Rural America initiative is available on the White House website.

The forum will highlight the role exports can play in helping rural businesses access new opportunity and helping rural communities add jobs and ensure long-term sustainable growth. Attendees will hear from experienced local exporters and from local, state, and federal organizations about resources and opportunities to help rural companies meet their export objectives. Chairman of the Export-Import Bank, Fred Hochberg, is invited to speak at the forum.

The event is free but registration is required.  Registration is available at https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=1595105.  

If you have additional questions, please contact Janice Cook at (928) 402-4329. 

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