International Gold Key Initiative
Volusia County
produced products and services are sold throughout the world. Whether it
is our agricultural products being shipped from our ferneries to markets
in Europe or whether it may be a series of high technology undersea
components being sold to support oil exploration off the coast of South
America or Asia, Volusia County products continue to gain acceptance
worldwide.
Volusia
County recognizes the importance of supporting our local companies by
encouraging them to seek out and develop new opportunities to sell their
locally produced products and services. By supporting international sales
efforts, we are able to encourage the discovery of new markets and in turn
support the men and women who are employed locally in the production of
everything from sunglasses to parachutes and from medical products to
other high tech products used worldwide.
U.S. Commercial Service–Gold Key Program
The U.S. Department
of Commerce/U.S. Commercial Service offers a unique opportunity for
companies seeking new sales markets overseas. Through the Gold Key
Program, a company is able to:
- identify potential
international markets for their products;
- receive personalized assistance in finding potential customers, product
representatives, or product licensing opportunities;
- appointments with prescreened potential buyers at locations around the
world;
- customized market and industry briefings with in-country trade experts;
- market research on a particular industry;
- assistance with travel, accommodations, interpreter service and other
logistics; and
- post-meeting debriefing with trade experts to discuss results of your
meetings and develop appropriate follow-up strategies.
The standard Gold
Key Program is offered to businesses by the U.S. Commercial Service, as
part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Additional information on the
Gold Key Program can be found at:
http://www.export.gov/comm_svc/goldkey.html.
Volusia’s Gold Key Matching Grant Program
To encourage your
company’s venture into finding new markets for locally produced products
and services, the Department of Economic Development provides a Gold Key
Matching Grant Program. This program, which began in 2005, has already
supported local companies in their quest to sell their products in the
Caribbean, Mexico and China by providing a 50-precent reimbursement of
their GOLD KEY purchase from the U.S. Commercial Service.
Your business
qualifies for this program if:
- you represent a Volusia County business;
- you possess a valid Volusia County Occupational License;
- you produce a product or service suitable for sale and export outside
the
continental U.S.; and
- you have been in business a minimum of 6 months.
What do I do next?
Volusia County’s Department of Economic Development works in partnership
with Trade Specialist from the U. S. Commercial Service and with Florida’s
International Trade Program. This unique team provides an effective one on
one consultation with local companies interested in selling their products
overseas.
By contacting our
Trade Specialist, arrangements will be coordinated with representatives
from the U.S. Commercial Service and Florida’s International Trade
Program. A meeting will be scheduled at your convenience at the Daytona
Beach International Airport or at your place of business.
We will assist you
with researching your prospective market, identifying your most likely
customers, and detailing shipping and customs matters.
For scheduling an
exploratory meeting for your company, contact: Phillip Ehlinger at
pehlinger@co.volusia.fl.us
or call 386-274-3438.
