New York SBDC Research Network

From the Department of Agriculture - Economic Research Service Annual estimates of U.S. exports by State and commodity group based on each State's share of U.S. agricultural production.

SBA is teaming up with Visa to ask small business owners: “Where will your next customer come from?” To recognize successful small exporters and increase awareness toward federal assistance for exporters, SBA is sponsoring its Export Video Contest. The contest, presented in partnership with the National Export Initiative and Export.gov, will award monetary prizes to five successful small business exporters representing a variety of industries. American small businesses looking to expand are going global. There are a number of advantages to exporting: reaching new customers, increasing sales and profits, and becoming less dependent on domestic demand, to name several. In fact, over two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power is based outside the U.S., where the vast majority of consumers reside. The U.S. government stands ready to help your small business get started in exporting, with an array of programs, tools and resources. More HERE .

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics [PDF] Manufacturing sector multifactor productivity declined at a 5.7 percent annual rate in 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. This was the largest annual decline in multifactor productivity since the series started in 1987. The multifactor productivity decline in 2009 reflected a 12.5 percent decrease in output and a 7.2 percent decrease in combined inputs.

The Small Business Quarterly Bulletin [PDF] from Advocacy's Office of Economic Research is a brochure-style publication that contains commentary and analysis on the current employment and financing trends of small businesses.

What is the best way for a business to obtain a barcode for a product? I would start HERE .

This one of those gooey, somewhat religious pieces. But it also has a basic business application, which is that good signage matters. The Blind Boy's Sign .

WASHINGTON – A major disaster has devastated your community, and landlines are down. Will you be able to use Facebook or Twitter to keep your employees, customers and vendors aware of your status? How will you distinguish good information on post-disaster social media channels from the scams? Business and civic leaders in Joplin, Mo., had a crash course in leveraging social media following the May 22 tornado that tore through the city, killing 160 people and damaging or destroying about 8,000 homes and businesses. Kirstie Smith, communications director of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, and Mark Kinsley, creator of the Rebuild Joplin Facebook page, will join the U.S. Small Business Administration and Agility Recovery Solutions during a free webinar August 16 to talk about how they used social media tools to exchange critical information with local businesses. Social media consultant John Orlando will share practical tips for business owners to use to map out a business contin