SBA State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant
Funding Amount
75% of eligible export-related costs (varies by applicant)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant Type
foundation
Overview
SBA State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant
Funder: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), administered by World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah) in partnership with the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO)
Geographic Scope: Utah small businesses
Program Status: Active and accepting applications
Funding Available:
Program Overview
The SBA STEP Grant helps small businesses pursue international sales and global market expansion. The program covers 75% of eligible costs, with companies responsible for 25% match funding.- Attending international trade shows and missions
- Designing and localizing marketing materials for foreign audiences
- Website optimization, localization, and translation for international markets
- Travel expenses for foreign-market sales trips
- Participating in export training workshops
- Accessing U.S. Department of Commerce services
- International business consulting services
Eligible Activities
- Small businesses based in Utah
- Companies engaged in or planning international sales
- Ability to match 25% of project costs with non-federal funding
Eligibility Requirements
- Over 18,000 U.S. small businesses have benefited since inception
- Generated $6.8 billion in exports nationwide
- Over 120 Utah companies awarded in past two years with $90 million in new trade opportunities reported
- For every $1 in national funding, businesses generate approximately $42 in export sales
Track Record
Contact Information
Email: grants@wtcutah.com or grants@wtcutah.com Phone: +1 (801) 532-8080 Address: 60 E. South Temple Ste. 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Website: wtcutah.com- Staheli West: Participated in Australia's Fodder Festival, engaged 60+ potential customers, secured distributor partnerships
- Kay Kare: Attended Global Health Exhibition in Saudi Arabia, solidified key contacts and regulatory processes, expanded to Gulf countries and Turkey
- Pingora: Attended ISPO Munich three times, established Japanese partnership and Tokyo launch
- Drift: Partnered with Bataleon to distribute 800+ units across Europe, established Belgian rental operations
- Coalatree: Exhibited at ISPO Munich 2022, expanded to Italy, France, Switzerland, and Germany
- Electric Power Systems: Formalized partnerships at Farnborough International Airshow with SkyDrive (Tokyo) and Supernal (Hyundai Motor Group)
Success Stories
How to Apply
How to Apply
1. Visit the Application Portal: wtcutah.com/grants or wtcutah.com/sba-step-grant
2. Application Requirements:
- Business must be based in Utah
- Business must be a small business (as defined by SBA)
- Company must have a clear international sales goal or existing international operations
- 25% match funding commitment required
3. Eligible Project Costs:
- International trade show/mission attendance fees and booth costs
- Travel and lodging for international business trips
- International marketing materials and localization/translation
- Website optimization and localization
- U.S. Department of Commerce services
- Export training and consulting services
- Foreign-market sales trip expenses
4. Required Materials:
- Business information and registration
- Project description and international sales goals
- Budget and cost breakdown
- Evidence of 25% non-federal match funding
- Description of how funding will be used
5. Submission Process:
- Applications submitted via online portal
- Rolling application process with periodic review
- Award notifications provided to approved applicants
6. Questions or Inquiries:
- Contact: grants@wtcutah.com
- Include details about eligibility questions or specific activities
- WTC Utah staff available to discuss eligible uses of funds
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
Categories
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