2011-2012 Annual Plan and Initiatives
Mission Statement
The District Export Councils encourage and support exports that strengthen companies (particularly small and medium sized enterprises), stimulate U.S. economic growth, and maintain and create jobs. Export expansion activities are accomplished by working with the U.S. Export Assistance Centers of the U.S. Department of Commerce in order to provide opportunities to promote greater export activity at the local level while developing a trade assistance network.
The primary objective of the Texas Camino Real Export Council (TCREC) is to support economic development and job creation in the Central/South Texas region through education, community outreach and trade policy advocacy related to international business and trade. The TCREC works closely with a number of like-minded national, state, and local partners and with the other DECs in Texas: North Texas, West Texas, and Houston, the national Border DEC and the National District Export Council.
Education Outreach
Education Outreach Committee:
This subcommittee is responsible for addressing all international education outreach in order to prepare students and companies to take advantage of opportunities in international trade, especially through exporting. Goals and initiatives include where the TCRDEC will:
DEC 100 – TCRDEC will assist new-to-export companies to become first time exporters. The objective is to bring more small and medium-size businesses to the point where they are ready to work with their local USEAC and make their first export sale. The program will provide voluntary one-on-one counseling and mentoring sessions; connecting companies to local export classes; and give out information regarding other potential resource partners. The TCRDEC will work with the International Trade Center and the Austin and San Antonio USEACs to assist in identifying these companies.
FedEX “Trade-Texas Style” Initiative – Several of the TCRDEC members will be participating in the Trade-Texas Style publication as resource partners. As a part of their participation, they will be identifying companies in Texas that will be needing export assistance and will be taking part in counseling sessions with these companies.
Export Fellows – TCRDEC will conduct four week educational training programs for students at universities and individuals from local small business companies where they attend classes run by export experts and develop export plans. Specifically, the TCRDEC will teach the Export Fellows programs at local universities and colleges to include Austin Community College, Texas State at San Marcos and Palo Alto Community College.
Export Leaders Program – TCRDEC will participate in this four month program designed for companies considering entering or expanding in the global marketplace. Specifically, the TCRDEC will provide a representative to the Steering Committee and host and/or speak at the Export Leaders Program in San Antonio, Texas supported by the City of San Antonio, the Free Trade Alliance, and the South Texas International Trade Center
Scholarship Program - TCRDEC will pay for the tuition of one or more individuals from a small or medium sized company to attend an export training program.
Community Outreach
Community Outreach Committee
This subcommittee is responsible for addressing outreach opportunities that promote TCRDEC visibility and increase overall participation by local communities in international trade-related activities. Goals and Initiatives include:
New Membership Outreach – Conduct a program to reach out to existing exporting companies in an effort to have them become associates or members of the TCRDEC. Specifically, the TCRDEC will recruit five new associates or member for open season.
Legislative Outreach & Trade Policy
Legislative Outreach & Trade Policy Committee
Legislative Committee –This subcommittee is responsible for addressing legislative international issues that are of importance on the federal or state level. This subcommittee works closely with the Trade Policy Subcommittee.
Trade Policy Committee – This subcommittee is responsible for addressing trade policy matters that are considered to be of national, state, and local importance in contributing to the creation of a strong national economy and that can be affected positively through the activities of the DECs.
Goals and Initiatives for these two foregoing Committees include:
Advocacy Efforts – for the pending Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama up for ratification in the U.S. Congress. Also support increased budget resources for the US & Foreign Commercial Service agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Congressional Visits – Meet periodically with Congressional offices located in the TCRDEC area to advise them of the work of the DECs, and the U.S. Commercial Service offices. The TCRDEC will advise these offices of international trade issues of critical importance to small and medium-sized enterprises in Texas and ask for their support when such issues come before the Congress for a vote. Specifically, representatives of the TCRDEC will visit each Congressional office in the area at least once a year and will continue communications with them via email, letters, and telephone calls.
Electronic Communication
Electronic Communication Committee
This subcommittee is responsible for addressing electronic communications issues of importance to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the National DEC Steering Committee, and the Texas DECs. Goals and Initiatives include:
Website – Updating the membership lists, events and news on the Statewide DEC website. Working with the North Texas DEC for new ideas to improve the website development.
National Steering Committee – Provide members with regular updates from the National DEC and its Steering Committee. Specifically, the representative of the TCRDEC on the National Steering Committee will communicate quarterly with members regarding National DEC priorities, including the National DEC Conference held annually.
Administrative Matters
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of the TCRDEC is responsible for handling key administrative matters, including budget, adherence to National DEC standards, adherence to state and local standards, as well as adherence to U.S. Department of Commerce guidance governing DEC operations. Goals and Initiatives include:
Revision of TCRDEC Bylaws – Revise the TCRDEC by-laws to bring them into conformity with the DEC Manual recently revised by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Fundraising Plan – the TCRDEC will identify opportunities to raise money to assist in the various initiatives and also to help TCDEC members and associates attend statewide and national meetings and other USDOC opportunities.
Meeting Hosts – Identify and arrange for hosts for upcoming quarterly meetings.
