STEP provides financial awards to state and territory governments to assist small businesses with export development.
Information for small businesses
The STEP grant program has helped thousands of small businesses obtain grants and find customers in the international marketplace since 2011. Through awards to U.S. states and territories, STEP helps small businesses overcome obstacles to exporting by providing grants to cover costs associated with entering and expanding into international markets.
STEP financial support helps U.S. small businesses:
- Learn to export
- Participate in foreign trade missions
- Design international marketing products and campaigns
- Support website globalization and e-commerce capabilities
- Pay for subscriptions to services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce and other federal agencies
- Participate in export trade show exhibits and training workshops
Check out the SBA Grants for Global Expansion webinar to learn more about the STEP program.
Review the following blog posts to learn how small businesses have successfully used STEP to help them export:
- Small Town Business STEPs into the Global Marketplace with a Little Help from SBA
- State Trade Expansion Program: 10 Years of Success
Contact a STEP awardee in your state to find out how they can help you start or expand your business to reach global customers: Find STEP awardees.
Information for state entities
STEP provides financial awards to state and territory governments to assist small businesses with export development. Find information on how eligible state entities can apply for STEP awards to be used to increase small business exporters and their sales in their state:
- STEP Grant Application Instructions
- STEP Grant Application Materials
- STEP Director’s Memo – STEP 9 FY21 Funding and FAQs
- FY20 Funding Opportunity Announcement and FAQ
STEP awards are managed and provided at the local level by state government organizations. The program is managed at the national level by the SBA’s Office of International Trade.