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at no cost to the small business exporter, but nominal fees are generally charged for exporttraining seminars and other SBDC-sponsored export events. As specialists in business planning,your local SBDC can help you create your own export strategy, which includes tapping into otherlocal resources such as the U.S. Commercial Service.SCORE—Counselors to America’s Small Businesses (score.org)Working and retired executives and business owners donate their time and expertise as volunteerbusiness counselors and provide confidential counseling and mentoring free of charge. Manymembers of SCORE have practical experience in international trade. They can evaluate yourcompany’s export potential and strengthen your domestic operations by identifying financial,managerial, or technical challenges and opportunities. SCORE advisers can also help you developand implement basic export marketing plans that show where and how to sell your goods abroad.For information on any SBA-funded programs, contact your nearest SBA field office.U.S. Department of AgricultureThe U.S. Department of Agriculture offers exporting assistance through the Office of Outreachand Exporter Assistance (OOEA). Part of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS, www.fas.usda.gov),OOEA serves as the first point of contact for exporters of U.S. food, farm, and forest products. Itprovides guidance, referrals, and access to foreign market information and assistance in gettinginformation about export-related programs managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture andother federal agencies. The FAS has officers and market experts at many U.S. embassies aroundthe world. It also serves as a contact point for minority-owned and small businesses seekingassistance in these areas. OOEA will provide basic export counseling and connect you to theappropriate export program, such as the Market Access Program.National Center for Standards and Certification InformationThe National Center for Standards and Certification Information (NCSCI) provides informationabout foreign standards and certification systems and requirements. In addition to providingcomprehensive information on existing standards and certification requirements, NCSCI offers“Notify U.S.” (tsapps.nist.gov/notifyus/data/index). This free, web-based e-mail subscriptionservice offers U.S. citizens, industries, and organizations an opportunity to review andcomment on proposed foreign technical regulations that can affect their businesses and theiraccess to international markets. By subscribing to the Notify U.S. service, you can receive bye-mail notifications about drafts or changes to domestic and foreign technical regulations formanufactured products.District Export CouncilsBesides its in-house services, the U.S. Commercial Service has direct contact with seasonedexporters in all aspects of export trade. The U.S. Commercial Service works closely with 58District Export Councils (DECs), including in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, made up ofnearly 1,500 business and trade experts who volunteer to help U.S. companies develop solidexport strategies.Chapter 4: Export Advice51