Small businesses in Greater Des Moines have a new go-to person for international trade issues. The Iowa Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) has hired Debbie Franklin as an international trade representative. Her primary role will be to assist Iowa companies in finding and developing export markets, as well as to help small businesses comply with federal export regulations.

“Iowa already has a fairly strong export effort for manufacturing and value-added food products,” said Jim Heckmann, state SBDC director. “We rank about 35th in the nation in exporting. We think there’s a lot more opportunity out there for exporting, which provides excellent opportunities for market growth.”

Most recently, Franklin worked as a regional sales and marketing representative with Carman Manufacturing Co. in Tacoma, Wash., a mattress manufacturing company that does business as Spring Air West LLC. She has also operated an international trade consulting firm, DK Franklin Consulting, and worked as a tax consultant. She has a business degree from Pacific Lutheran University.

Franklin, who began work on May 24, is based at the Mid Iowa SBDC office, 2829 Westown Parkway, Suite 220, which houses the West Des Moines Business Incubator. She will provide international trade assistance to all 15 SBDC offices statewide.

Heckmann said the SBDC has not filled such an international trade position for at least 10 years. The trade office is funded through a $477,754 grant from the Small Business Jobs Act. The grant will pay for the initial two years of operation, but the plan is to find funds to keep the office open, he said.