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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Atlanta small businesses now have a new resource available to them to help expand sales overseas and sustain U.S. jobs. The resource is in the form of a new regional export finance center operated by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). The Atlanta office opening today occurred in conjunction with the Bank's Global Access forum to promote small-business exports.

This is the second opening of the four planned regional export finance centers this year by Ex-Im Bank in its effort to assist local businesses improve their export sales. The center will provide enhanced access to Ex-Im Bank products and services. It will also assist local businesses in the region to realize export sales opportunities abroad. The Bank launched its first regional center in Minneapolis, Minn., and will open similar centers in Seattle, Wash. (August 20); and Detroit, Mich. (late fall).

Wanda Felton, first vice president and vice chair of Ex-Im Bank, delivered keynote remarks at the forum and offered a program overview of Global Access for Small Business. More than 100 local small-business exporters attended and received advice on engaging foreign markets and using Ex-Im Bank products. Atlanta and surrounding area business owners can gain a competitive edge abroad by using our new export finance center, said Felton. The center will support local businesses seeking new opportunities for growth in foreign markets.

Susan Kintanar will serve as the Bank's Atlanta regional director and will be located in the Atlanta office of the U.S. Export Assistance Center.

In fiscal year 2011, Ex-Im Bank authorized approximately $165 million to Georgia businesses supporting an estimated $628 million in export sales. Of the 65 exporters who received Ex-Im Bank financing during this period, 40 were small businesses.

About Ex-Im Bank:

Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. In the past five years, Ex-Im Bank has earned for U.S. taxpayers $1.9 billion above the cost of operations. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services.

Ex-Im Bank approved $32.7 billion in total authorizations in FY 2011 - an all-time Ex-Im record. This total includes more than $6 billion directly supporting small-business export sales - also an Ex-Im record. Ex-Im Bank's total authorizations are supporting an estimated $41 billion in U.S. export sales and approximately 290,000 American jobs in communities across the country. For more information, visit www.exim.gov.