Outreach and Recruitment: • Participant Outreach: Conduct statewide outreach to identify and enroll at least 15-20 California-based companies that meet the following eligibility criteria: o For-profit entity o U.S.-incorporated with majority operations in California o Meets U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards o At least one (1) year in operation o U.S. company with goods or services of U.S. origin, or at least 51% U.S. content o Currently exporting to other markets • Marketing and Promotion: Develop marketing materials (e.g., flyers, social media posts) to share with IAT for broader outreach efforts. • Industry Engagement: Attend relevant domestic industry trade shows and purchase lists (as needed) to connect with potential participants. All contacts made and lists purchased will be provided to IAT. • Program Participants: All companies recruited for the training must apply to participate via the GO-Biz STEP Portal and be approved by IAT. No companies will be permitted into the training program without IAT approval. Targeted Training: The training must include the following, at a minimum: • Export Training Program Development: Design a comprehensive training program focused on key aspects essential for success in the South African market, including: o Market Selection: Assessing the South African market for export viability o Export Plan Development: Tailoring export plans to meet individual business needs o Government Support Programs: Utilizing government resources, including, but not limited to, GO-Biz STEP, the U.S. Commercial Service (CS), USAID, USDA, Prosper Africa
