State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant Program
The State Trade and Export Promotion Grant Program (STEP) is a 3-year pilot trade and export initiative to make matching-fund grants for states to assist “eligible small business concerns,” enter and succeed in the international marketplace. Services under the STEP Program are funded in part by SBA, but are provided to eligible small business concerns – or “STEP Clients” - by STEP grant recipients located in most states and territories, and the District of Columbia.
About the Program
The program’s objectives are to increase the number of small businesses that are exporting, and to increase the value of exports for those small businesses that are currently exporting.
STEP services are managed and provided at the local level by state government organizations. The program is managed at the national level by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of International Trade. At the state level, The Program has total Federal funding of $60,000,000, for use over a two-year period.
STEP was authorized by Section 1207 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. Under the statute, the 50 states, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, are eligible to compete for award of matching-fund grants. The ratio of Federal to state matching funds is 75% to 25%, except for high exporting states, for which the ratio of Federal to state matching funds is 65% to 35%, and territorial possessions of the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, for which matching funds requirements are waived to a maximum of $200,000.
Program Facts
Under the first grant competition in 2011, SBA awarded fifty-one cooperative agreements, totaling $28,977,094. Under the second competition in 2012, the Agency awarded fifty-two cooperative agreements, totaling $29,996,182. Individual State project award amounts varied, based on proposed project plans and budgets. In the first grant competition, the average award value was $568,000. In the second grant competition, the average award value was $577,000.
How to Find STEP State Service Providers
- Award amounts, program descriptions, and points of contact for all states, listed alphabetically[link]
- Scroll down to the interactive map entitled “Current Grants by State,” and click on individual states for award amounts, program descriptions, and points of contact.
- Contact STEP@sba.gov
Current Grants by State
Click any State to view its details
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