Think Safe’s Unique Solutions Integrator Approach to Workplace Emergency Preparedness

Think Safe recently developed an integrated solution for one of the nation’s leading providers of accounting, tax and consulting services. This new client has more than 6,000 employees and associates in about 75 cities nationwide. The client’s goal was to have a best practice first aid program to include Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and appropriate first aid supplies that ensured a high-level of readiness at all times yet was user-friendly and affordable. The company’s office suites are low risk of injury workplaces but a specific goal was to address the need to respond to the nation’s biggest killer – Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) – which claims the lives of over 300,000 people annually.  Key decision makers at the company were well aware of some key information that OSHA had released on the topic. ” Employers should consider use of AEDs at their work sites to reduce the time to defibrillation with the goal of improving survival.”

These offices are now fully equipped to deal with any medical illness or injury-related emergency situations with their investment of proper first aid equipment, AEDs, and site specific employee training. This program and client showcase how multi-facility organizations can implement affordable employee benefit programs and safety practices that offer improved emergency preparedness across a common culture without human resources drain or capital drain.   The average cost per employee for the entire program was less than $2 per employee per year over a 5 year period (the costs drop to pennies per employee after that).

Will they ever get a return on this minimal investment?  Well, is saving even one life enough of a return?  One employee shared a story of an event that occurred at their office,  “An employee was walking by a tax partner’s office when she saw him slumped over his desk. It looked like he was sleeping so the co-worker went into his office and found him unresponsive.  The co-worker immediately initiated the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and an AED was retrieved by a tax secretary.  The secretary used the AED and revived the tax partner (shock was advised by the AED) while someone else called 911.  The tax partner was very fit and in good shape so it was a surprise to everyone when they found out he had a cardiac arrest.  The tax partner survived thanks to the AED machine and the quick action by the employees. The paramedics and doctors said the partner would likely have not have survived, if the defibrillator had not been used at the office and they had waited for EMS to arrive.”

In choosing Think Safe the above medical-related first aid emergency could be addressed.  However, Think Safe was picked as the provider of choice because they offered a unique, innovative, simple & user-friendly, and affordable AED and first aid program solution for other emergencies that might occur at the workplace.  Think Safe is the manufacturer and patent owner of the First Voice Emergency Instruction Device (EID) and this “first aid tablet” can guide employees through any major or minor first aid emergency and giving reminders or when to: call 911, check scene safety, use personal protection, provide treatment and how to or what not to do,  and what to do after the incident or during for record keeping.

Each client location implemented the following First Voice equipment and services (see picture):

Easy to access medical-related emergency equipment including AED, first aid kit, Emergency Instruction Device (EID) and signage.

 

AED in carrying case with adult 4 yr pads, 4 yr battery and full 10 year warranty

Alarmed AED wall-mounted cabinet (helps aid in notification of AED use; response needed when alarm sounds)

“V-shaped” Wall sign  (8×10” faces) for above AED cabinet to help improve visibility of AED location from any angle

Tamper Evident AED Fast Response Scissors/Razor Kit with use instructions

Laminated AED Use Protocols (attached to AED case for easy reference during AED use)

Think Safe’s Patented First Voice Emergency Instruction Device (EID) (automated first aid tablet, http://www.think-safe.com/FirstVoice/EmergencyInstructionDevice/tabid/285/Default.aspx)

50 Person OSHA/ANSI Compliant First Aid Kit with Pocket Refill System  (comes with tamper-evident seals)

 

To ensure legal protection and ongoing program compliance Think Safe also provided the following services:

Online & Blended Certified Training for CPR/First Aid/BBP (ILCOR/ECC/AHA/Red Cross/National First Aid Science compliant) that comes with Course Completion Tracking & Includes Refresher Training & Tracking

Training DVD or online training link for “Brand of preference” AED picked (HR Dept keeps this DVD and uses corporate key code for free AED training to provide any new employees or for use at employee meetings as a refresher training tool)

Think Safe documents provided for workplace postings help communicate key information. (Included with Site Administrator Toolkit)

Site Administrator Tool Kit to include all AED Program Communication Tools (AED Site Assessment assistance (where to put AED), Company-wide AED information distribution & Email notice templates, CPR/AED posters, AED policy template, Emergency Response Plan (ERP) documents & integration, EMS Notification/Registration, “AED Equipped” location stickers to remind employees of AED location inside office, inspection tag system, AED location thumbnail decals for evacuation/exit charts at facilities, Free AED prescription, and more…)

Online First Voice Manager AED Program Management Software for Auto Notification Reminders, Tracking & Reporting on AED consumables (pads, battery) and any first aid or other safety program supplies or training www.firstvoicemanager.com (works on any mobile device or PC with internet access)

Mobile compatible AED Inspection Tool with Continual 24/7 AED Maintenance Log Redundancy & Backup (proves AED was maintained if there is an incident involving use and someone does not survive; legal protection)

State/Local AED Owner Civil Liability Immunity Law Compliance & AED Program Medical Director Oversight, as needed

Equipment Recall Advice, Guidance and Warranty Servicing

Free AED Post-Event Review Technical Support & Incident Assistance

Free replacement pads/battery after any AED use event

Phone Technical Support or Online Technical Support

Contact us and mention this blog post and we’ll make sure you get a free site assessment and Site Administrator Toolkit information. 

Let Think Safe provide you more information on this unique, effective solutions integrator approach to workplace emergency preparedness, AED programs, or first aid programs.  Please  fill out the form below,email us or call us at 319-377-5125. 

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Enterprise Training: First Voice’s Unlimited Staff Model

Your Training Challenges 
Because what you need is unique

Getting OSHA-compliant training is easier said than done. Multiple-location companies and franchise organizations are faced with unique challenges when it comes to providing staff training:

1. High turnover
2. Budget impact
3. Multiple locations and departments
4. Training time
5. High Staffing Needs

What you need is affordable, flexible training options, customizable to fit your organization’s unique structure, staff, time frame, and budget. And that’s exactly what First Voice Training provides.

Who We Are
Innovators in our industry

We are in the business of making minutes matter. From the crucial minutes that occur after the onset of a medical emergency to the minutes it takes to complete a training course, we believe that every single minute counts. So we’ve made it our mission to provide first aid supplies, technology, and training that save time and money but don’t skimp on quality.

How We Can Help
Engaging technology, empowering people

1.Unlimited Access and Controlled Cost Models at an Enterprise Level
As a multiple-location company or franchise, ensuring that all your employees receive mandatory training can be both complex and costly. Our answer to that is a cost-efficient training system with no employee access ceilings.

Access
A rotating door for employees is a reality faced by many industries, and it makes training difficult and often too prohibitive in time and labor costs. However, First Voice Training allows employees to train anytime—that’s 24/7 access on all 365 days of the year. This flexible system means that training no longer has to be done during times of key field activity, such as during hands-on, in-store, or on-floor hours. With no limit on who can be trained, and when, you control outgoing spend and get more value for your money spent.

All of our training courses are OSHA compliant and up to date with the most recently approved science protocols for emergency preparedness, CPR, first aid, and workplace violence. And, courses even cover the required equipment you have at your facility and how to use the equipment, which helps with OSHA-compliance safety initiatives.

Cost
We offer controlled costs, which allow for best-practice compliance and affordable, tracked training solutions that are sustainable for organizations with high staffing models and high staff turnover.

Many of our clients pay under $1–5 per person per year, a low price that is unheard of in the training and compliance industry.

We can do this because we offer enterprise training for emergency preparedness and safety on a cost-per-location basis, as opposed to a cost-per-employee basis. By paying a low-cost annual service subscription per location, you can train your employees anytime. Our fixed cost-per-location pricing model, in fact, often saves you money on the traditional courses we offer from our core course product catalog.

2.Additional Revenue Streams for Your Business
Our turnkey system is an excellent reselling opportunity for your organization to provide to franchisees for state and/or federal requirements. We allow franchises to license and brand our training to sell internally to the franchisees as a corporate overhead fee income stream. This allows for additional revenue streams at the corporate level while meeting the needs of franchisees and providing very low bulk volume training course access.

3.Flexible Integration
As the licensed and intellectual property holder and content editor, we are able to white label our accredited training to your franchises at a these low pre-approved rates. Or, we plug our curriculum and content into your existing learning management system (various solutions exist on how to do this). This system is turnkey and allows for quality service to be provided at a discounted rate due to the bulk training volume of organizations like yours. Basically, we price it out per location per year so that it’s affordable to you and helps you meet your bottom-dollar budgeting needs for new account acquisition.

Your Course Needs
Relieve the Stress of Training

Most states require social services to facilitate both mandatory reporter and universal precautions (BBP) training, and any workplace is supposed to offer first aid and CPR training opportunities to employees that are potential responders for workplace emergencies. Our training solutions are effective, and we are more than happy to provide OSHA and state codes information to supplement your knowledge about your organization’s compliance needs. Use the More Information button below to request a copy of our Enterprise Training Packages sheet to see what our effective, affordable training model looks like.

This model is sustainable, compliant, affordable, and easy to track. Administrators are allowed to track the progress (0–100%) of their employees online anytime to ensure course completion, or reports can be proactively delivered to the administrators.

We are able to accommodate nearly any emergency preparedness, first aid and CPR, or related safety training course topic needed. Our training medians consist of a multitude of options extending from online to hands-on or blended techniques, including an in-house Train the Trainer program to meet core hands-on skills requirements, if needed. Check out some of our options below.

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Interested in finding out how Think Safe’s products can benefit your workplace? Simply contact Think Safe at 888-473-1777 or click on the More Information button, and we’ll be happy to contact you. Or, if you like what we do, refer us to a friend!

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Another Great SCA Survivor Story

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor Donates Defibrillator to Grandson’s School after Defying the Odds at Casino

February 29, 2016  AED, Defibrillator, donation, Forward Hearts, Sudden Cardiac Arrest

A Louisiana man who survived a sudden cardiac arrest at Boomtown Casino donates an automated external defibrillator (AED) to St. Rosalie School with HeartSine’s Forward Hearts program

James Stein defied all odds last October when he survived a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) at a local casino that almost cost him his life.

Fortunately, luck was on his side, as the casino was equipped with an AED and staff members performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in a timely manner. Time is critical during sudden cardiac arrest because for every minute defibrillation is delayed, the victim’s chance of survival decreases by seven to 10 percent.

To celebrate his luck and promote the importance of quick access to AEDs, Stein will donate a HeartSine® samaritan® PAD 350P (SAM 350P) AED to St. Rosalie School in Harvey, Louisiana. The device will be provided by HeartSine Technologies Forward Hearts program, which allows survivors of an SCA event in which a HeartSine defibrillator has been used, to donate a HeartSine AED to the charity or organization of the survivor’s choice, at no cost.

The Stein family donates a HeartSine AED to St. Rosalie School in celebration of Stein’s survival. Pictured: Scott Stein, James Stein (survivor), He’nri Stein, Mary Wenzel, Fr. Larry Urban, and Taylor Stein

The potentially lifesaving SAM 350P AED, which analyzes the heart rhythm and delivers an electrical shock to victims of SCA in order to restore the heart to normal rhythm, will protect thousands of faculty members and students at St. Rosalie School. Stein chose to donate the AED to St. Rosalie School because his grandson is a student there.

“I feel so blessed and fortunate to be alive today, and I am glad to have the opportunity to protect my grandson and his classmates at his school,” said Stein. “Surviving a sudden cardiac arrest should not be a matter of luck. All public places should be equipped with AEDs.”

Much to the joy of his family – which includes his wife of 43 years, six children and grandchildren – Stein suffered no neurological damage and has resumed taking walks, cooking, and doing many of the other activities he enjoys.

“Mr. Stein’s survival from sudden cardiac arrest is a great example of the importance of AEDs in all public places,” said Michael Lockwood, sales manager at HeartSine. “As sudden cardiac arrests truly can take place anywhere, it is imperative to place AEDs in all public spaces from casinos to schools.”

The HeartSine AED at Boomtown Casino that saved Stein’s life was supplied by HeartSine’s authorized distributor Think Safe, Inc., a first-aid industry wholesaler based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“It is important to communicate that AEDs help protect against one of the nation’s leading causes of death,” said Paula Wickham, Think Safe’s president. “Only through more AED placements and quick response by volunteers and staff, like this exemplary event at Boomtown Casino, will we stop the impact of the average 350,000 deaths that occur annually as a result of SCA. AEDs are easy to use and should be placed in all public places.”

The HeartSine AED was given to St. Rosalie School on February 29, 2016.

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Interested in finding out how Think Safe’s products and services can benefit your organization? Simply contact Think Safe at 888-473-1777 or click on the More Information button, and we’ll be happy to contact you. Or, if you like what we do here, and you know someone who could benefit from our services, refer  us to a friend. We’d appreciate it!

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What Do Darth Vader and CPR Have in Common?

About a 104 beats per minute.

That’s right, Star Wars fans. If you can hum Vader’s theme song, The Imperial March (and we know you can), then you can also deliver the recommended rate of compressions for hands-only CPR. Why? Because the infamous Sith Lord marches to the rhythm of 104 beats per minute, which is within the 100- to 120-compressions-per-minute range recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA).

But don’t take our word for it: the proof is in this public service announcement from the Kiowa County EMS team.

Here’s why this is important: CPR is not only easy to learn, it’s also invaluable. According to the AHA, effective bystander CPR administered immediately after collapse from sudden cardiac arrest can double a victim’s chance of survival.

So—whether you get your training from the Dark Side, the Light Side, or from a local organization unaffiliated with the greater galactic politics of a galaxy far, far away—think about registering for a CPR class. One day, you might just save a life.

 

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To register for one of Think Safe’s in-person training courses or to find out more about what we can do to help you and your organization be more prepared in the event of an emergency, click Contact Us below. Or, if you like what we do here, and you know someone who could benefit from our services, refer us. We’d appreciate it!

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AED Laws: Do You Know the Risks?

Automated external defibrillators (AED) are the number one treatment for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), one of the nation’s leading killers. They are portable, user-friendly devices that even lay rescuers can use in an emergency to help save a life. As a result, many workplaces are required by law to have them on-site and many other workplaces have them on-site simply because they recognize their value as life-saving technology. AEDs are smart, responsible devices to have in your first aid and medical emergency tool belt, but owning one does come with liability.

So, you want to provide a safe working environment and be as prepared as possible in the event of SCA, but how can you be sure you’ve fully mitigated all AED program legal risk for your facilities or organization? Here’s the answer: know your state AED owner laws. AED owner laws exist in every state but vary widely. These laws require administrative and/or operational procedures for AED programs, help provide Good Samaritan and civil liability immunity protection, or even mandate AED ownership and deployments.

State AED owner laws do impact AED program operations and create or mitigate liability risk. It is important that you have an accurate and complete understanding of your state’s AED laws so you can ensure regulatory compliance, avoid costly administrative sanctions, and preserve any available Good Samaritan or civil liability immunity protections as an AED owner or for AED users within your organization.

That said, navigating state laws can be tricky and time consuming. That’s why some companies try to sell you a subscription to accessing information on state laws, with discounted multi-seat subscriptions for larger organizations. But, why pay when you can get your AED state law information for free through the First Voice State AED Laws portal? 

That’s right, we offer a no-cost subscription that makes learning about and mitigating the risks of AED ownership a snap! All you have to do is visit our AED State Laws page and fill out the form. We’ll get back to you within one (1) business day, and you’ll be well on your way to safe, informed AED ownership. 

We hope to you hear from you soon, and we thank you for helping us every day to make minutes matter!

Attention Childcare Providers: DHS-Compliant First Aid Kits are Available at Think Safe

If you’re a childcare provider, are you prepared in the event of a medical emergency with first aid supplies approved by the Iowa Department of Human Services? If not, now is an excellent time to purchase DHS-compliant first aid kits from Think Safe, offering over 300 first aid essentials and items that comply with State of Iowa first aid supply requirements. These requirements are listed under Iowa Code 237A and 441 Administrative Code, Chapter 110. 110.5(1) specifically discusses health and safety conditions. You can review this information at the Iowa DHS Provider Portal.

From gauze, bandages, and eye wash to ice packs, bio hazard bags, and disposable thermometers, our DHS-compliant first aid kits are fully supplied with the tools you’ll need to respond to medical emergencies. And all of them fit securely in an easy-to-use hard plastic carrying case, complete with our four-pocket easy refill system.

At Think Safe, we know childcare is no easy job. It takes skill and heart, patience and imagination. It takes being prepared for anything. So, take some of the guesswork out of your day, and check out our Iowa DHS-Compliant First Aid Kit.

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Interested in finding out how Think Safe’s products can benefit your workplace? Simply contact Think Safe at 888-473-1777 or click on the More Information button, and we’ll be happy to contact you. Or, if you like what we do, refer us to a friend!

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Explore Comprehensive CPR and First Aid Training Options with Think Safe!

When a medical emergency occurs and a life is on the line, every single minute is crucial. Learn how to get the most from those minutes or renew your expiring certificate today by registering for one of Think Safe’s monthly in-person training classes in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Think Safe offers comprehensive training classes in first aid and CPR (healthcare provider or lay rescuer), bloodborne pathogens, mandatory reporting, automatic external defibrillator (AED) use, and many more. Our trainers are experts who make learning these life-saving skills easy and interesting.

We offer our in-person training classes every month, so you have plenty of opportunities to gain these critical skills. Check out our upcoming Cedar Rapids CPR and first aid training classes!

­Upcoming Class Schedule

10/10/2015: CPR & First Aid Training, from 9am to noon
10/15/2015: CPR & First Aid Training, from 6pm to 9pm
10/24/2015: CPR & First Aid Training, from 9am to noon
10/29/2015: CPR & First Aid Training, from 6pm to 9pm

11/05/2015: CPR & First Aid Training, from 6pm to 9pm
11/14/2015: CPR & First Aid Training, from 9am to noon
11/19/2015: CPR & First Aid Training, from 6pm to 9pm
11/28/2015: CPR & First Aid Training, from 9am to noon

12/03/2015: CPR & First Aid Training, from 6pm to 9pm
12/12/2015: CPR & First Aid Training, from 9am to noon
12/17/2015: CPR & First Aid Training, from 6pm to 9pm

To register for one of these classes, simply call us at (319) 377-5125 or visit our in-person training calendar at http://inperson.firstvoicetraining.com to register online.

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Can’t attend one of our in-person training classes? No problem. We’ll bring the training to you! Today’s companies know ongoing employee training is critical to improving safety and productivity in our ever-increasing competitive environment. As an industry leader in technical training, Think Safe has conducted thousands of standard, modified, and custom in-house training programs to meet the needs of companies throughout North America. We would like to offer you the same opportunity through our First Voice Training Network!

You can choose course content from our extensive list of training offerings and then have the opportunity to discuss your specific needs with an instructor. Our experts can tailor your in-house training to meet your organization’s unique objectives, emphasizing areas of high interest, and using examples and case studies that are relevant to you.

Not only can we bring a trainer to your site but we can also provide eLearning, followed by an in-person skills check. We call this blended training, and it helps to cut down on your labor and/or overtime costs. Or, consider the benefits of having your own in-house CPR and first aid instructor program:

• Tailor the content to your specific needs
• Flexible scheduling
• Save on travel time and out-of-facility expenses
• Instructors can run demonstrations anytime with any size of class, including new hires
• Equipment or problem-specific issues can be openly discussed
• Cost effective for large teams
• Promotes teamwork and camaraderie among workers trained together
• Workers remain on site in case of an emergency
• More comfortable learning environment

To learn more about these options, discuss your unique training needs, or get a same-day quote, call us at (319) 377-5125 or submit a request for onsite information.

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Testimonials

“…I just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful training. We all had a great time and learned a lot.
You are an outstanding instructor!”
–J. Schmede, AGL Resources

“Think Safe has an integrated approach that has helped us to have better communication throughout our facility in the event of a first aid or medical emergency. Their proprietary software is also helpful in ensuring equipment or any training we have remains up to date and in compliance with OSHA needs.”
–Safety Director, Raining Rose

Interested in finding out how Think Safe’s products can benefit your workplace? Simply contact Think Safe at 888-473-1777 or click on the More Information button, and we’ll be happy to contact you. Or, if you like what we do, refer us to a friend!

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Local YMCA Receives Lifesaving Donation of Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Cedar Rapids, IA – June 23, 2015 – Think Safe andHeartSine presented the YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area with a donated AED on Tuesday, June 23 at 2:00 p.m. at the Helen G.Nassif YMCA.Five months after staff at the Helen G. Nassif YMCA saved the life of a local school teacher using an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), the YMCA was awarded a second AED from HeartSine, the device manufacturer. Valued at $1595, the AED will be located in the Welcome Desk at the request of the man whose life was saved after experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest while using the YMCA’s indoor track.On January 20, 2015, staff members performed lifesaving measures to the member after he went down on the track. They grabbed the AED and another staff member who was working out at the time, cleared the area and later brought the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to the site of the emergency. Two YMCA members who are health care professionals witnessed the event and joined in the lifesaving effort until an ambulance arrived. The patient survived and as a result, HeartSine, the AED manufacturer, awarded an AED to an organization chosen by the survivor. He chose to have it donated to the Helen G. Nassif  YMCA so the facility has an AED on each level. Think Safe is the local distributor who sold the AED to Cedar Rapids Metro YMCA. The donation is made possible by HeartSine, the AED manufacturer, through their Forward Hearts AED donation program. On behalf of survivors who’ve benefited from their AED products, HeartSine awards an AED to the organization of the survivor’s choice. Think Safe President, Paula Wickham said, “This is the way things should work. The Pay It Forward Program allows recognition of a life-saving event and enables others to share their story and life-saving victory over the disease that is the nation’s leading killer. Another life may be saved in the future, in the pool area, due to Cedar Rapids Metro YMCA doing the right thing for their members. Our congratulations go out to HeartSine and Cedar Rapids Metro YMCA for another valuable life saved!” Interested in finding out how Think Safe’s products and training options can benefit your workplace? Simply contact Think Safe at 888-473-1777 or click on the More Information button, and we’ll be happy to contact you. Or, if you like what we do, refer us to a friend! More InformationRefer a friend

New AEDs Hit U.S. Market

Cardiac Science Unveils Powerheart® G5 AED
Cardiac Science is proud to announce the Powerheart® G5 AED in the United States. The G5 is easy to use, reliable, rugged and boasts advanced technology. By using variable escalating energy, it delivers customized energy needed to a patient.

Cardiac Science G5

HeartSine Unveils samaritan PAD 450P AED
HeartSine® Technologies debuts the first and only FDA-cleared Automated External Defibrillator to provide real-time verbal and visual feedback on the rate of CPR compressions. The samaritan PAD 450P is compact, easy to use, and also boasts the highest IP Rating.

HeartSine samaritan PAD 450P

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Interested in finding out how Think Safe’s products and training options can benefit your workplace? Simply contact Think Safe at 888-473-1777 or click on the More Information button, and we’ll be happy to contact you. Or, if you like what we do, refer us to a friend!

More InformationRefer a friend

USTR NEWS: Remarks by Ambassador Michael Froman at the White House “Made in Rural America” Forum

USTR NEWS
UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
http://www.ustr.gov Washington, D.C. 20508 202-395-3230

For Immediate Release Contact: Andrew Bates
August 8, 2014 ABates@ustr.eop.gov

Remarks by Ambassador Michael Froman at the White House “Made in Rural America” Forum
From Linn County to Lima: Making it Here, Selling it Everywhere
Cornell College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
August 8, 2014

*As Prepared for Delivery*

“Thank you, Linda, for that kind introduction. And thank you for all the work that you, Dennis, and Doug are doing to grow Linn County’s economy through trade and investment. Thank you also to Cornell College for hosting this important event.

“And since we’re at a leading liberal arts college, I thought I might start with a little history lesson. But don’t worry, this isn’t summer school, I’ll keep it short. There’s an early history of Linn County, published in 1878, that makes the following prediction about Cedar Rapids: ‘It is unquestionably destined to become a populous center of trade, but at the same time will not sacrifice its more enjoyable characteristics in the pursuit of wealth.’

“In a sprawling book of over 800 pages, those words stuck with me for two reasons. First, Cedar Rapids has become a populous center of trade, having exported nearly $900 million in merchandise during 2012. Second, towns like Mount Vernon are a testament to the fact that Iowa’s economic rise has not come at the expense of its character.

“That conviction—that we must advance both our interests and our values—is at the core of President Obama’s trade agenda. And nowhere is that commitment more evident than in the White House Rural Council’s ‘Made in Rural America’ export and investment initiative. As part of that initiative, it’s a privilege to join you today for the third of five regional forums organized in collaboration with the National Association of Counties.

“Many of you are here to decide whether exporting should be the next step for your farm or small business. Others are already exporting and will be sharing their experiences with us today or learning how to further bolster their sales to foreign markets. We’re brought together by a shared appreciation for rural America’s importance to the greater U.S. economy and by the economic opportunities that exist outside our borders.

“In recent years, Iowa workers, farmers, and businesses large and small have been a leading example of how trade creates better jobs and drives economic growth. As the second-largest agricultural exporter in America, Iowa has been a key contributor to the roughly 40% increase in U.S. agricultural exports since 2009. That includes last year’s national total of nearly $150 billion in agricultural exports—the highest in U.S. history. And, thanks to Iowa, we are on track for another record-setting year.

“Of course, the best part about these records is that the success is shared. Across America, our exports last year supported more than 11 million jobs, and increase of 1.6 million jobs since 2009. Agricultural exports alone supported nearly 1 million jobs, and we know that on average, export-supported jobs pay 13-18% more than non-export supported jobs. We also know that agricultural exports create positive ripple effects throughout the economy as value is added at each step between the farm and the table. In 2012, every dollar of agricultural exports stimulated another $1.27 in business activity.

“Among these numbers are millions of farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses, many of them in Iowa. In 2012, more than 3,300 Iowa companies exported, and more than 80% of these companies were small businesses.

“I’ll be visiting some of these small businesses during my stay in Iowa, including Kimberley Family Farms, which is based in Maxwell. Coming from a line of farmers and ranchers that goes back to the 1850s, the Kimberley family has incorporated best practices, such as no-till farming, for soybeans into their farming. Today, Kimberley Farms has a total grain storage capacity of roughly 400,000 bushels in 5 different sites, and it exports soy and corn to Asia.

“I’ll also visit Kemin Industries, a Des Moines-based company that manufactures over 500 specialty ingredients for the global feed and food industries, as well as the health, nutrition and beauty market. Kemin’s products reach over 2 billion people across more than 90 countries. The innovation behind Kemin’s success shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, there’s a long-list of famous brands with Iowa roots, including Maytag, Stover, Chrysler and others.

“Yet another example of how Iowa’s innovative small businesses are growing through exports is the story of Think Safe, a Cedar Rapids-based first aid and safety company. Think Safe was founded in 2004 after a former flight nurse for St. Luke’s Hospital identified the need for a product that could offer first aid instructions to untrained people during rescue situations. Earlier this year, Think Safe received a patent for a device that does just that, and today, its products are sold to distributors in Africa, the European Union, Mexico and Canada.

“And by all indicators, trade is only growing more important to Iowa’s economy. According to a recently-released ranking by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Iowa is 7th in the nation in export intensity growth, meaning that exports are growing to contribute an even greater share of Iowa’s GDP. And during 2011, one-quarter of all manufacturing workers in Iowa depended on exports for their jobs.

“Through President Obama’s trade agenda, we’re working on multiple fronts to help lower barriers for U.S. exports so that more American businesses can export and those who are already exporting—like Kimberly Family Farms, Kemin Industries, and Think Safe—can export more. These are 3 of the nearly 300,000 U.S. small businesses that currently export, and with less than 1% of all businesses currently exporting, we have a lot of room for growth.

“That’s why we’re negotiating ambitious, next-generation trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. When completed, TPP will lower barriers for U.S. exports to the world’s fastest growing region, representing 40% of the global economy, including three of Iowa’s four biggest exports markets: Canada, Mexico, and Japan. As the economies of the Asia Pacific grow, incomes rise and middle classes emerge, more and more people will be looking for better, safer, more diversified diets.

“These shifting consumption habits will continue driving demand for meat, dairy, organic, and other ‘Made in Rural America’ exports.

“Our discussions in TPP are also aimed at setting high standards across a range of issues that will level the playing field for American workers and businesses. We’re doing this not only because promoting fundamental worker rights and protecting the environment is consistent with our values, but also because we know that when global competition is fair, America’s workforce and businesses—the most productive in the world—win.

“We’re also unlocking opportunities for “Made in Rural America” exports in America’s largest market: the European Union.

“Through our negotiations in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or T-TIP, we’re knocking down non-tariff barriers that have prevented some small American businesses from competing in the European market. T-TIP will also enhance market opportunities for a number of goods that Iowa is already exporting to the EU, including soybeans, animal feeds, pork and other livestock products.

“In parallel with our T-TIP negotiations, we are working to remove unnecessary regulatory barriers affecting agriculture exports. Last year, the Obama administration resolved nearly 200 trade-related barriers involving U.S. agricultural exports, including resolutions that helped increase total U.S. beef exports by 12% and U.S. pork exports to Colombia by 63%. And we’re continuing to make progress on these issues.

“When completed, TPP and T-TIP will give us free trade with almost two-thirds of the global economy, and the United States will be at the center of that economy as the world’s production platform of choice. More businesses will want to move their operations to the United States to take advantage of our talented workforce, abundant and affordable energy, dependable legal system, and all the other qualities that make America great. Farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and other will grow it here, raise it here, make it here, and sell it all around the world.

“We’re also standing up for American families, farmers and businesses by vigorously enforcing our existing trade agreements. This administration has made enforcement a top priority, and its track record in upholding the rules-based trade system is second-to-none.

“We have brought 18 disputes in the World Trade Organization, and having won every dispute decided so far, we’re on our way to creating billions of dollars in additional opportunities for U.S. exporters.

“At the end of the day, all of these efforts—opening new markets, deepening our existing economic ties, resolving unwarranted barriers, and enforcing our agreements—create opportunities, but it falls on each of us to seize them. The idea of exporting to Asia might seem daunting, but you’re not alone. As you’ll hear more about today, there are a number of local, state, and federal resources available to help you tap into the 95% of consumers and 70% of the world’s purchasing power that exists outside our borders. Together, we can make those opportunities a reality.

“Thank you.”

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