The Federal Government has announced the award amounts for the following states in our market: Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Arkansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio and Kentucky.

Please share this valuable information with your small business export customers and prospects.  The funds will be allocated quickly to eligible companies that apply.  The contact information for each state’s program administrator is provided below.


The State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program is a pilot export development program authorized by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. Funded by federal cooperative agreement awards and matching funds from the states, the purpose of the STEP Program is to increase the number of U.S. small businesses that are exporting and increase the dollar value of exports by those small businesses that are currently exporting. The STEP Program is executed by the Office of International Trade (OIT), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

HOW STEP AWARDS HELP SMALL BUSINESSES:

STEP Program awards provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses for the following purposes:

  • Participation in foreign trade missions and foreign market sales trips
  • Subscription services from the U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Website translation fees
  • Design of international marketing media
  • Export tradeshow exhibitions
  • Participation in export training
  • Other export initiatives determined to be appropriate by the OIT.

Office of International Trade: Missouri

Office Information:

Missouri Department of Economic Development

Business & Community Services

Harry S Truman Building, Room 720

301 W. High Street

Jefferson City, MO    65101

Contact:

Ms.  Ann Pardalos

Manager, International Trade and Investment Office

573-751-6605

Email

Authorized Representative:

Email

Federal Funding: $599,000

Description:

State Organization: Department of Economic Development, Division of Business & Community Services

The State of Missouri will use STEP award funds to support eligible small business concerns (ESBC) expand sector specific exports to Central and South America and the Middle East, with a focus on the following key sectors:  agricultural products, food & kindred products, wood product manufacturing, chemicals, plastics & rubber products, fabricated metal products, machinery, computer and electronic products, electrical equipment, appliances and components, transportation equipment, and miscellaneous manufactured commodities.  In addition, STEP award funds will be used to increase ESBC exports in Missouri’s high priority markets of Colombia, Panama, Peru and the UAE.

Office of International Trade: Kansas

Office Information:

Kansas Department of Commerce

Business and Community Development

1000 SW Jackson Avenue

Suite 100

Topeka, KS    66612

Contact:

Mr.  Chang Lu

STEP Project Director Kansas Department of Commerce

913-307-7378

Email

Authorized Representative:

Email

Federal Funding: $296,533

Description:

State Organization: Kansas Department of Commerce

The State of Kansas will use STEP award funds to support eligible small business concerns’ participation in export training, market entry programs, tradeshows, and trade missions.  For example, Kansas will provide access to multiple export seminars and courses, including General Overview of Export, Market Identification, Export Regulations and Compliance, Payment and Financing, Shipping and Logistics, Protecting Intellectual Property Rights Abroad, and Cross Cultural Communication.  In addition, Kansas will provide exhibition opportunities at the U.S. Pavilion at the Farnborough Air Show and the Kansas Pavilion at Hannover Messe industrial trade fair.

Office of International Trade: Colorado

Office Information:

Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

1625 Broadway

Suite 2700

Denver, CO    80202

Contact:

Ms.  Stacy Feeney

STEP Project Director

International Outreach Manager

303-892-3858

303-892-3840

Email

Authorized Representative:

Email

Federal Funding: $195,938

Description:

State Organization: Office Economic Development and International Trade

The State of Colorado will use STEP award funds to support export training and eligible small business concerns’ participation in international events, including:

  • ISPO Munich, the largest European Outdoor Recreation tradeshow
  • ANTAD Expo in Guadalajara, Mexico, the largest retail food show
  • Arab Lab 2016 in Dubai, UAE, the largest tradeshow for laboratory science and instrumentation
  • National Restaurant Association tradeshow in Chicago, IL, for supplying specialized beverages for international restaurants

Office of International Trade: Arkansas

Office Information:

University of Arkansas

Arkansas World Trade Center

210 Administration Building

Fayetteville, AR    72701

Contact:

Mr.  Dan Hendrix

Arkansas World Trade Center

479-418-4800

Email

Authorized Representative:

Email

Federal Funding: $207,535

Description:

State Organization: University of Arkansas, World Trade Center Arkansas

The State of Arkansas will use STEP award funds to support eligible small business concerns’ participation in foreign industry tradeshows, including the IWA & Outdoor Classics Show and AERO 2016 in Germany, Expocomer in Panama, and the Farnborough Airshow in the UK. Arkansas will also provide assistance to eligible small businesses travelling to foreign markets on sales trips and for business to business meetings arranged through the Gold Key matching services of the U.S. Department of Commerce.  In addition, the State will host reverse trade missions, collaborate with international Chambers of Commerce, and offer export training provided by key resource partners.

Office of International Trade: Nebraska

Office Information:

Nebraska Department of Economic Development

301 Centennial Mall South

P.O. Box 94666

Lincoln, NE    68509

Contact:

Ms.  Susan R. Rouch

Export Development Manager

Step Program Director

402-471-4668

Email

Authorized Representative:

Email

Federal Funding: $300,570

Description:

State Organization: State of Nebraska, Department of Economic Development

The State of Nebraska will use STEP award funds to support several export services for eligible small business concerns, including participation in the International Market Access Grant Program, ExporTech training, and direct market research identifying viable international markets for specific export products and industries.

Office of International Trade: Iowa

Office Information:

Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA)

200 East Grand Avenue

Des Moines, IA    50309

Contact:

Ms.  Lisa Longman

Project Coordinator

Iowa Department of Economic Development

515-725-3139

Email

Authorized Representative:

Email

Federal Funding: $190,000

Description:

State Organization: Iowa Economic Development Authority

The State of Iowa will use STEP award funds to support eligible small business concerns’ (ESBC) participation in tradeshows, outbound trade missions, and reverse trade missions.  Iowa will also provide ESBCs access to financial assistance for export product certifications, export training tuition reimbursement, and U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Key services.

Office of International Trade: Illinois

Office Information:

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Office of Trade and Investment

100 W. Randolph

Suite 3-400

Chicago, IL    60601

Contact:

Ms.  Margo Markopoulos

Illinois STEP Program Manager

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Trade and Investment

312-814-2319

Email

Authorized Representative:

Email

Federal Funding: $685,855

Description:

State Organization: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

The State of Illinois will use STEP award funds to support development of eligible small business concerns’ (ESBC) exports in numerous markets, including South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Chile, and Malaysia. In addition, Illinois will support ESBC website development, translation services, and marketing campaign development.

Office of International Trade: Wisconsin

Office Information:

Wisconsin International Development Corporation

201.W Washington Ave.

Madison, WI    53073

Contact:

Ms.  Monica Wahlberg

International Grant Manager

608-210-6734

Email

Authorized Representative:

Email

Federal Funding: $712,000

Description:

State Organization: Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, International Business Development

The State of Wisconsin will use STEP award funds to support eligible small business concerns’ (ESBC) participation in trade missions to Viet Nam and China; UAE and Saudi Arabia; Mexico; Canada; and South Korea.  In addition, Wisconsin will support ESBC participation at the National Restaurant tradeshow, targeting Latin America, Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Wisconsin will also support ESBC attendance at ExporTech training.

Office of International Trade: Kentucky

Office Information:

Department for Business Development

Old Capitol Annex

300 West Broadway

Frankfort, KY    40601

Contact:

Ms.  Darlene Barber

502-782-1940

Email

Authorized Representative:

Email

Federal Funding: $400,000

Description:

State Organization: Commonwealth of Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, Department of Business Development

The Commonwealth of Kentucky will use STEP award funds to provide access to events, seminars, training, and counseling for eligible small business concerns (ESBC).  Kentucky will connect ESBCs to matchmaking resources and international market research services.  In addition, Kentucky will facilitate ESBC participation in tradeshows and trade missions.

Office of International Trade: Ohio

Office Information:

Ohio Development Services Agency

Office of Business Assistance

77 South High Street

Columbus, OH    43215

Contact:

Mr.  Wesley Aubihl

Export Assistance Manager

614-644-9759

Email

Authorized Representative:

Email

Federal Funding: $700,000

Description:

State Organization: Ohio Development Services Agency

The State of Ohio will use STEP award funds to help eligible small business concerns’ (ESBC) implement their export strategies by offering financial assistance to promote their products and services in international markets. Supplementing Ohio’s International Market Access Grant for Exporters program, STEP funds will assist ESBCs partake in numerous export activities, to include international tradeshows, trade missions, website translations, and international marketing campaigns.