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Rep. Jerry Nolte, R-Gladstone, wants to open some doors for Northland business owners trying to reach a wider world.

Nolte is the primary champion of a new, Web-based clearinghouse for information about how to expand a business into international markets.

The Web site www.northlandglobal.com was recently unveiled by the Northland International Trade Assistance Group, a subsidiary of the Clay County Economic Development Council.

Though sprouting from the development council, the Web site resulted from the seeds planted by Nolte through his work in the General Assembly.

Efforts to increase opportunities to do business overseas led Nolte to recognize that it’s very difficult for small- and medium-sized companies to participate in international commerce. That insight led the lawmaker to approach development council officials about the Web site.

“As chair of the House Committee on International Trade and Immigration, I am working diligently to create policies that help Missouri businesses to take advantage of the many opportunities for trade oversees,” Nolte said. “The new Web site is a powerful tool that will reduce some of the confusion from the process and allow more companies to thrive and grow by taking advantage of these opportunities.”

Nolte’s idea for an international trade clearinghouse was a natural fit for the mission of the trade assistance group, chairman Steve Brainard said.

“A key goal of the development council is to help Northland companies find new markets for their products and services,” he said.

The Web site offers easy-to-understand support in several key ways, according to development council executive director Jim Hampton:

• A guide to figuring out a company’s export options.

• Assessing whether a company is prepared for international trade.

• Information about local and regional seminars on overseas commerce.

• Links to government Web sites and offices related to doing business outside the country.

“We’re trying to find ways to make our companies successful,” Hampton said.

Compared to other, similar metropolitan areas, there appeared to be a real need in the Northland to generate more business overseas, according to Hampton.

“We seem to have a smaller percentage of our companies that are involved in international trade,” he said.

Discussions with business people in the region revealed a lot of confusion about international trade and a reluctance to tackle the formidable bureaucracy often involved in that kind of commerce, according to Hampton. The Web site was conceived as a way of providing some clarity and guidance.

Hampton encouraged local businesses to consider ways of expanding in to markets in Canada and Mexico, where trade is eased by the North American Free Trade Agreement.

“That’s what I would recommend to a business, is start a little closer to home,” Hampton said.

ONLINE

To learn more about the Northland International Trade Assistance Group Web site, visit

www.northlandglobal.com.

Staff writer Ray Weikal can be reached at 389-6637 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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