Two Central American countries, Nicaragua and Guatemala, continue to open doors for American companies who are seeking out new markets.

As businesses work to expand their international export networks, they look to the Department of Commerce’s U.S. Commercial Service (CS) to move domestic and foreign economy relations forward. The U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC), a major part of Commerce’s CS, specifically provides key opportunities through counseling, special events and specific business matchmaking.

Indian Hills Community College (IHCC) recently recruited international students from El Salvador to their rural Iowa campus with the help of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Indian Hills, ranked in the top 10% of all community colleges in the nation since 2011 by the Aspen Institute, expressed the need to connect with international partners in an affordable and reliable way.

Successful partnerships between the Dominican Republic and small U.S. companies are thriving due to expanding export opportunities. The Commerce Department supports these opportunities by furthering the mission of the “Open for Business Agenda” through free trade agreements, conducting trade missions and traveling to key markets for bilateral negotiations on behalf of American business.

The National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE) convened last week for their third quarterly meeting.

In recent years, American Emergency Vehicles (AEV), a custom ambulance production company based in North Carolina, has increased exports to several countries—namely, Chile.

Yesterday, Secretary Pritzker visited Greentown Labs in Somerville, Massachusetts, the nation’s largest cleantech incubator. She participated in a roundtable discussion with its hardware-driven member companies about how to best support U.S. competitiveness in the manufacturing sector.

My commitment to public service is a direct result of my parents, who emigrated from India to Boston, Massachusetts, two years before I was born. Throughout my childhood, both of my parents instilled in me a strong sense of public service and a desire to give back to our country, which gave our family so many opportunities. My parents worked tirelessly to give us a better life here in America.

This week, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to discuss the importance of trade and exports to the state’s economy with Representative Terri Sewell and local business leaders.

Today, while the media and politicians are debating the President’s Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), it is a good moment to step back and reflect on why Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) should matter to all of us.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season will likely be below-normal, but that’s no reason to believe coastal areas will have it easy.

In the last four years, HERNON has doubled sales, with exports being a key contributor in our growth. In fact, the team is projecting continued development, through innovative, efficient, and cost-effective design and production processes.

Today, Assistant Secretary Jay Williams visited the Rutgers campus to announce that the University is among the recipients of the Science and Research Parks Development Grants, the last grants being issued under the 2014 Regional Innovation Strategies Program (RIS).

Earlier this week, I had the honor of presenting 45 American companies with the President's “E” and “E” Star Awards, a recognition awarded to U.S. businesses that have made significant contributions to U.S. exports. These awardees, which range from small- and medium- sized businesses to household names, understand the importance of exports to their bottom line, American jobs, and the U.S.

Today, U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker honored 45 American companies and organizations at the 2015 President’s “E” Awards ceremony. The President’s “E” Award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.

Two southeast Louisiana shipping hubs, critical to the U.S. economy, are now part of NOAA's Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS®). The new multi-sensor systems will increase navigation safety and allow for increased efficiency on ships transiting through the Port of Morgan City and Port Fourchon, Louisiana.

Bruce Andrews, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, joined Polish Deputy Minister of Economy Andrzej Dycha on Friday, May 15 to commemorate a new business deal between Boeing Commercial Airlines and United Technologies Corporation (UTC) Aerospace Systems that will create more jobs in Poland.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) inducted fourteen of America’s greatest innovators into the National Inventors Hall of Fame Tuesday night.

Yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker joined President Obama in celebrating emerging entrepreneurs from across the United States and around the world. During the event, the White House announced the addition of nine new members of the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) initiative, which Secretary Pritzker chairs.

A dramatic transformation in our energy economy is driving fundamental changes in the way we power our homes, offices, factories and communities. This means cleaner air, healthier communities, and new jobs and industries that didn’t exist two decades ago.

Recently, incoming eBay CEO Devin Wenig, eBay executives, and Department of Commerce leadership including Secretary Penny Pritzker and Under Secretary Stefan Selig hosted a first-of-its-kind “Listen and Learn” session with small businesses who are successfully making international sales online through eBay Marketplace.

As we wrap up Public Service Recognition Week, I want to thank all of the amazing employees we have here at the Commerce Department for their work in supporting America’s businesses and workers. You are the reason we keep America “Open for Business” every day.

Since May is World Trade Month, it’s only fitting that the U.S. Department of Commerce reiterate its commitment to helping companies—especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) —that are interested in exporting. Earlier today, we released the 11th edition of ‘A Basic Guide to Exporting’ which will help businesses navigate the avenues of trade.

It’s National Travel and Tourism Week and there is a lot to celebrate! Last year, 74.7 million international visitors to the United States generated $220.6 billion dollars in spending – a record number of visitors and a record year. Overall, the travel and tourism industry generated $1.5 trillion in total sales in 2014, which supported 7.8 million U.S. jobs.