Opportunity Information: Apply for OIT STEP 2019 01
The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) is a federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help states and U.S. territories strengthen small business exporting. It was made a permanent part of the Small Business Act by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (HR 644), which was signed into law on February 24, 2016. The basic idea behind STEP is to fund practical, state-level export development projects that help eligible small business concerns (often referred to as ESBCs) start exporting for the first time or expand their existing export sales into new markets.
The main goals of STEP are straightforward and measurable: increase the number of U.S. small businesses that export, raise the total dollar value of small business exports, and push small firms to explore meaningful new international trade opportunities. Rather than giving money directly to individual companies through this announcement, the SBA provides grants to state governments (and the equivalent entities in certain territories), which then use the funds to design and deliver programs that reduce the cost and complexity of exporting for small businesses. In practice, these projects commonly support activities that help small businesses enter foreign markets, such as export training, market research assistance, participation in trade missions, and other export-readiness or market entry efforts, depending on each state or territorys strategy.
This particular funding opportunity is identified as "STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM" with Funding Opportunity Number OIT STEP 2019 01. It is a discretionary grant under the Business and Commerce funding activity category and is listed under CFDA 59.061. Eligible applicants are limited to state governments, meaning the applicant must be a U.S. state or one of the specifically named jurisdictions invited by SBA: the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The SBA explicitly limits submissions to one application per state or equivalent jurisdiction, which means each state must coordinate internally and submit a single consolidated proposal rather than multiple competing applications from different agencies.
Awards are made competitively, so applications are evaluated against one another rather than being funded automatically. The anticipated maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $900,000, and SBA expected to make around 50 awards. The period of performance for funded projects is two years, giving recipients time to build programming, recruit eligible small businesses, and deliver export assistance that can translate into actual export activity and sales growth over a realistic timeline. The announcement was created on May 1, 2019, with an original closing date of May 31, 2019, indicating a relatively short application window for states to prepare and submit their proposals.
Overall, STEP is designed as a capacity-building and export acceleration tool: SBA funds flow to states and territories, and those recipients implement targeted export assistance that helps small businesses overcome barriers like limited international market knowledge, the upfront cost of pursuing foreign buyers, and the operational challenges of entering new countries. The outcome SBA is aiming for is not just more participation in export-related events, but more small firms successfully exporting and increasing export revenues over time.Apply for OIT STEP 2019 01
- The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.061.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 01, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) - FAQs
What is the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)?
The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) is a federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). It is designed to help U.S. states and certain U.S. territories strengthen small business exporting by funding practical, state-level export development projects.
What is the purpose of STEP funding?
STEP funding is meant to support projects that help eligible small business concerns (often called ESBCs) either begin exporting for the first time or expand existing export sales into new international markets.
Is STEP a permanent federal program?
Yes. STEP was made a permanent part of the Small Business Act by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (HR 644), which was signed into law on February 24, 2016.
Who provides the grant funding under STEP?
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides the grant funding. Under this opportunity, SBA awards funds to state governments (and equivalent entities in certain territories), which then implement export assistance programs.
Do individual small businesses apply directly to SBA under this STEP announcement?
No. Based on the information provided, this funding opportunity is for state governments and specified jurisdictions to apply to SBA. The states and territories then use the funds to design and deliver programs that support eligible small businesses.
What types of activities can STEP support at the state level?
STEP commonly supports activities that reduce the cost and complexity of exporting for small businesses. Examples mentioned include export training, market research assistance, participation in trade missions, and other export-readiness or foreign market entry efforts, depending on each state or territory's strategy.
What are the main goals of the STEP program?
The goals described for STEP are measurable: increasing the number of U.S. small businesses that export, increasing the total dollar value of small business exports, and encouraging small firms to pursue meaningful new international trade opportunities.
What is the official name and funding opportunity number for this STEP grant?
The opportunity is identified as "STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM" with Funding Opportunity Number OIT STEP 2019 01.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
This is listed under the Business and Commerce funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this STEP opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 59.061.
Who is eligible to apply for this STEP funding opportunity?
Eligible applicants are limited to state governments, meaning the applicant must be a U.S. state or one of the specifically named invited jurisdictions: the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
How many applications can a state or jurisdiction submit?
SBA limits submissions to one application per state or equivalent jurisdiction. This means a state must coordinate internally and submit a single consolidated proposal rather than multiple competing applications from different agencies.
Is this grant opportunity competitive?
Yes. Awards are made competitively, meaning applications are evaluated against one another rather than being funded automatically.
What is the maximum award amount for this STEP opportunity?
The anticipated maximum award amount (the award ceiling) is $900,000.
How many awards does SBA expect to make?
SBA expected to make around 50 awards.
How long is the period of performance for funded projects?
The period of performance is two years. This timeframe is intended to allow recipients to build programming, recruit eligible small businesses, and deliver export assistance that can translate into export activity and sales growth.
When was this funding opportunity created and when did it close?
The announcement was created on May 1, 2019, and had an original closing date of May 31, 2019.
What kinds of barriers to exporting is STEP meant to address?
STEP is described as helping small businesses overcome barriers such as limited international market knowledge, the upfront costs of pursuing foreign buyers, and operational challenges involved in entering new countries.
What outcomes is SBA aiming for through STEP-funded projects?
The outcome SBA is aiming for is not only participation in export-related events, but more small firms successfully exporting and increasing export revenues over time.
What does it mean that STEP is a discretionary grant?
Based on the information provided, this opportunity is identified as a discretionary grant, which aligns with the competitive award approach where applications are reviewed and selected rather than funded automatically.
Why does the program focus on state-level projects rather than direct federal awards to companies?
STEP is structured so SBA funds flow to states and territories, and those recipients design and deliver export assistance programs. The intent described is to support practical, localized export development projects that reduce exporting costs and complexity for eligible small businesses.
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