SBA Announces Grants Available for State Trade and Export Promotion
April 21, 2014
(SBA)
SBA to Award $8 Million to Promote Small Business Exporting
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The SBA announced today that for the third year, states will
be able to apply for grants from the U.S. Small Business Administration starting
April 21 to support efforts to increase exporting by small businesses. The
State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant Program was appropriated $8
million to award grants by September 30, 2014. Grants will awarded on a
competitive basis.
The STEP initiative has two objectives: 1) increase the number of small
businesses that begin to export and 2) increase the value of exports for small
businesses that currently export. The 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to apply. The award
amounts will vary based on the awardee’s proposed project plan and budget.
Expanding the base of small business exporters and making the process as easy as
possible is a key component of the Administration’s National Export Initiative.
Results for the STEP program have been very strong. In FY 2012, awardees
reported a return on investment of federal funds of over seventeen-to-one.
“With today’s technological advances, small businesses are better equipped than
ever to compete in a global marketplace. Exporting provides tremendous
opportunities for America’s small businesses that are looking to expand and
grow. The STEP program is another way that the U.S. Small Business
Administration is partnering with states to give small businesses the tools and
resources they need to take their business to the next level,” said Maria
Contreras-Sweet, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
A state may not submit more than one application for a STEP grant and should
support the following export related activities: participation in foreign trade
missions, foreign market sales trips, subscription services provided by the U.S.
Department of Commerce, design of international marketing campaigns, export
trade show exhibits, training workshops or other export initiatives that are in
line with the objectives of the pilot program.
The STEP grant program announcement will be posted at www.grants.gov on April
21, 2014. The application period will be from April 21 through May 20. For
more information, visit http://www.sba.gov/step.
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