Export Assistance

SouthCoast businesses interested in entering, or expanding their business, in markets overseas have the opportunity to take advantage of export assistance through a partnership between One SouthCoast and the Massachusetts Export Center, part of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network.

Services available to local companies include export counseling, export regulatory compliance assistance, international market research and assessment, international business development assistance, linkages to trade promotion opportunities (such as overseas trade shows and offices), export publications and export training programs.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a counselor, please contact One SouthCoast at (508) 999-5231 or contact Nancy Lowd at the Massachusetts Export Center at (508) 999-1388.

One SouthCoast provides certificates of origin verifying that a manufacturer’s goods are made in the United States or for goods that were not made in the United States. A certificate of origin is a document required by foreign governments that validates the country of origin of where the product was manufactured. The certificate of origin must be signed by the exporter and then signed by a locally designated agency such as One SouthCoast in order to be acceptable and valid.

Businesses interested in having their certificates of origin signed by One SouthCoast must complete an affidavit releasing the Chamber from any liability with regards to the goods. The affidavit can be emailed or faxed to you. Businesses should bring the signed affidavit to the Chamber office together with the certificate of origin and the documents regarding the goods (e.g. invoice). Documents must indicate the country of origin.

Certificates of origin are stamped during regular office hours. No appointment is necessary. However, we strongly recommend that you call the Chamber office at (508) 999-5231 before coming into the office to have your certificate signed. Certificates of origin are free for Chamber members and $50 per certificate of origin for Non-Members.

One SouthCoast partners with the Mass Export Center and other organizations to hold various export seminars and workshops throughout the year for local businesses. Topics in the past have included export financing, export regulatory compliance, exporting resources, exporting 101 and international marketing.

This is an annual buyers mission held in March to help showcase New Bedford’s waterfront and local seafood plants to international buyers and media participating in the International Boston Seafood Show. This educational tour gives international buyers an inside look at how 21st-century computer technology and advanced processing equipment is producing a higher quality product than ever and shipping it fast almost anywhere on the planet. The goal is to generate increased and new business for New Bedford’s seafood industry.

The tour is co-sponsored by Food Export USA, Mass Export Center, City of New Bedford, New Bedford Harbor Commission, New Bedford Economic Development Council and One SouthCoast.