State & Local Agencies

There are some excellent state and local organizations in Kansas and the Kansas City region that can help you develop export business.
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Kansas Department of Commerce

The Kansas Department of Commerce can assist businesses with expanding their presence and sales in foreign markets. Please contact one of our team members to discuss your global market development needs and exporting efforts. Its International Trade Division can help companies grow their international sales by providing global insight and connections. The department has international representatives in several strategic world markets who serve qualified Kansas exporters through a variety of services, including:

  • Customized export assistance: Take advantage of strategic export counseling, tailored to your company’s needs and objectives. Our team of international trade managers and overseas representatives work one-on-one with qualified Kansas companies to provide in-depth analysis and expertise that’s relevant to your international goals.
  • International trade shows and missions: Participate in international export events across the globe spanning a variety of industries.
  • Research: Access research from unique databases to identify leads and evaluate potential markets.
  • Trade opportunity alerts: Receive alerts about the Kansas export industry. Sign up for Kansas’ international trade alerts to stay up-to-date about upcoming export opportunities.
  • Partner resources: Benefit from the many collaborative relationships developed between the Kansas Department of Commerce and federal and regional partners.
  • Trade e-newsletter: Stay up to date about trade-related news, announcements, business opportunities and upcoming events by subscribing to our international trade e-newsletter.

Kansas Department of Agriculture

The Kansas Department of Agriculture offers a number of excellent programs and services to help food and agricultural product exporters. These include export training, grants, trade missions, and marketing information. They can also help companies access the USDA “Branded Programs” for cost-share funding to support the overseas promotion of branded and private label food and agricultural products. Other services include:

  • Assistance with international marketing strategies and plans
  • Assistance with market research and understanding of export/import protocols and regulations
  • Hosting foreign buying teams
  • Leading industry-specific trade missions, both to tradeshows and directly to buyers
  • Working with Kansas State University’s Value-Added Foods Lab to prepare products for export – recipe reformulation, label/package modification, ingredient modification, etc.
  • Working with Kansas State University’s IGP Institute
  • Membership in national and international trade associations that give Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses access to a variety of programs and services. Memberships include:

World Trade Center Kansas City

As part of a network of 330 World Trade Centers, WTCKC offers a variety of programs and resources to stimulate international trade. The KC Chamber is one of only three chambers in the U.S. to operate a licensed World Trade Center. It focus on growing the region’s economy, advocating businesses’ interests in the public policy arena, increasing its members’ visibility and connectivity, and providing innovative programs and resources that help members grow their businesses. Whether yours is a large corporation, small business or nonprofit, the WTCKCare developing programs and events with your needs in mind.

International Trade Council of Greater Kansas City

The International Trade Council of Greater Kansas City is a network of international business professionals, educators and students that actively work with each other and the community to build a stronger support system for international trade in the Kansas City region. It’s membership is representative of our trade community, ranging from small entrepreneurs to very large corporations.

  • Networking opportunities: ITCGKC hosts events throughout the year that provide great opportunities to build and grow your network. Catch up with old connections and make new ones at our Fourth Friday Breakfast Meetings where we host a successful business leader who speaks about their path towards international success or discuss a timely trade topic.
  • Advocacy: The landscape of international trade is ever changing and our members are involved in many of those conversations on the local, national and international levels.
  • Internship promotion and connection: Through our educational initiatives, ITCGKC has strong relationships with Universities in the Kansas City region and engages with the most ambitious students at those Universities interested in careers involving international trade. There are a variety of ways we can connect your company with this fresh talent.

World Trade Council of Wichita

World Trade Council of Wichita is affiliated to the Center for International Business Advancement (CIBA), Barton School of Business, Wichita State University. It was organized to promote international trade and investment in Greater Wichita and South Central Kansas. The council has sponsored trade missions to many export markets and works to attract overseas buyers to Wichita.

Today, the council is affiliated with Wichita State Barton School of Business’ Center for International Business Advancement [CIBA] and the Wichita Metro Chamber. In its 40-year history, CIBA and WTCouncil’s unique strategic alliance has organized and conducted over 500 country and company trade events and 150 international educational seminars.

Kansas Small Business Development Center 

As part of America’s SBDC network, the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the U.S., this organization helps companies at every stage of your business lifecycle. This includes helping business owners who are interested in expanding their sales to new overseas markets. They may be searching for buyers or deciding on which markets to enter. Our clients include business services, resellers, and manufacturers. Business owners are often unsure about the processes, rules, and regulations as well as the time and effort it will take to explore new markets. The SBDC can help them determine if and how exporting fits with their overall business, how to find the right markets, establish the right distribution chains, and price effectively to preserve profits.