STEP Grants available!

The State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant Program (STEP) is a pilot Federal-State partnership grant initiative managed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, intended to increase the number of small businesses that export and the value of exports by the small business sector. Additional funds have been made available in some states. For more information on the SBA program, including state-by-state funding and contact information, click here.


Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)'s STEP Program funds will support global business development missions; statewide export education seminars as well as direct grants for companies. Participants may be first-time exporters or companies that currently export but are interested in expanding into new international markets. Eligible companies are able to apply for up to $7,500 in financial assistance. For more information, click here.

Michigan
Qualifying Michigan companies can use the MI-STEP program to help diversify their customer base, provide long-term stability and create new jobs. Eligible companies may qualify for up to $12,000 in assistance to offset 50% of their marketing-related costs. For more information, click here.

Iowa
The Iowa Economic Development Authority will disburse grant funds via the following programs to help eligible Iowa companies develop or expand their export markets: the Technical Trade Assistance Program (TTAP); Domestic Trade Assistance Program (DTAP); Expanded Export Trade Assistance Program (ETAP); and the Product Trade Assistance Program (PTAP). For more information, click here.

Illinois
Illinois' State Trade and Export Promotion (ISTEP) program provides Illinois' small and medium-sized businesses with both financial and technical assistance to increase their exports. The ISTEP program includes 3 options for Illinois' companies to grow their export sales: Group Trade Missions, Individual Foreign Market Sales Missions, and assistance to achieve product compliance certifications. For more information, click here.

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Kind Regards,

The TAG Team
Curt, Leslie, Ursula, Jackie, John, Sara and Mason

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