Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Sponsors Rural Business Forum on Campus

CORTLAND, NY (09/02/2014)(readMedia)-- SUNY Cortland Friday will be the focal point for federal efforts aimed at increasing exports manufactured or raised in Upstate New York, during a forum organized by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and top business and economic development officials.

"Made in Rural America," one of just a handful of regionally focused export and international investment forums developed by President Barak Obama's White House Rural Council, will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, in the Corey Union Function Room on the SUNY Cortland campus.

It will feature a keynote address from Bruce H. Andrews, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Other speakers include Gillibrand; Doug McKalip, senior policy advisor for the White House Domestic Policy Council; Earl F. Gohl, co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission; Kenneth Adams, president and CEO of Empire State Development and New York State commissioner of economic development; as well as international business professionals from the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the New York Small Business Development Center network and the U.S. Depart of Commerce and regional representatives from successful business ventures.

"This forum offers an extraordinary opportunity to bring top policy makers together with rural New York's business owners, manufacturers, farmers, entrepreneurs, academics and visionaries," said SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum, who will help open the event. "It is the first time one of these forums has been held on an college campus while it is in session, and we encourage our faculty and students – as well as members of the community - to participate."

The SUNY Cortland forum is designed to help Upstate New York firms learn ways to grow their business by finding new customers abroad and expanding sales to their existing international customers. It will also help rural community leaders learn how to position their regions to attract and support foreign investment.

Topics scheduled for discussion include financing export opportunities, breaking down barriers to successful exporting, positioning rural America for economic success, strengthening links between businesses and export service providers and investing for economic growth in Upstate New York. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and share information.

The event is free, but attendees are asked to register in advance by 5 p.m. on Sept. 3. Registrants will enjoy a lunch composed entirely of New York State-produced food provided by SUNY Cortland's Auxiliary Services Corporation.

All visitors driving to campus should park in SUNY Cortland's Route 281 parking lot on the far west side of campus. A special shuttle bus will run continuously during the event.

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