Nov. 15 - MTO Opening St. Cloud Office

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) is opening a satellite office in central Minnesota in partnership with St. Cloud State University.

The office, which will be open two days a month, will be located in the college’s new Welcome Center, 355 Fifth Ave. S., in St. Cloud. Although official days and hours haven't been established, the trade office will be open to the public for the first time on Tuesday, Nov. 16.

“We know there is a large manufacturing community in central Minnesota. This satellite office will help us reach that sector and other businesses in the region that are interested in exporting,” said Ed Dieter, acting director of the Minnesota Trade Office. “This is an important expansion of the trade office’s services.”

The Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is also located in the Welcome Center. Both MTO and SBDC are entities within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

Dieter said the office – MTO’s first satellite branch – will provide free consulting, technical assistance and marketing research to companies that are interested in exporting their products. He envisions seminars, workshops and classes also being held at the center.

Discussions about opening a satellite trade office on campus took place with St. Cloud State President Earl Potter. Potter participated in MTO trade missions to China and Japan in September and to South America last December, and the university has made a commitment to attracting more foreign students to campus and helping local businesses expand their markets to other countries.

“This partnership with the Minnesota Trade Office and the opening of its first satellite office in the university’s new Welcome Center fits well with St. Cloud State’s mission,” Potter said. “One of the key elements to achieving that mission is being attentive to the opportunities of globalization and agile in our adaptation to new developments in the world.”

The MTO is focused on increasing state export sales in foreign markets. The MTO promotes international trade by providing export information, export education and training, and one-on-one counseling to Minnesota companies that wish to sell manufactured goods and services in the international marketplace.

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and our services, visit us at www.PositivelyMinnesota.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PositivelyMN.

Upon request, the information in this news release can be made available in alternative formats by contacting the DEED Communications Office at 651-259-7161.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651/259-7161 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
www.PositivelyMinnesota.com
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