The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced $20 million in State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grants have been awarded

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced $20 million in State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grants have been awarded to 43 state and territory international trade agencies to provide financial support to small businesses in growing the volume and value of exports.

Small businesses looking to start or expand their global customer reach can use resources offered by state entities that have received STEP funding.

We always receive information about the award grantees, yet we don’t receive information about the companies that participated in the programs. I live in Georgia, and it’s a competitive grant process. Who has access to these opportunities?

It would be great if small businesses and citizens who pay taxes could receive more transparency about how the funds are applied to all small businesses.

Just like the hashtag#PPP loans were made public, information about the small business participants in these grant programs should be made public outside of the grant awardees.

The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grants are specifically for established U.S. small businesses seeking to complete one of the following eligible activities:

🔹 Participate in trade missions
🔹Subscribe to services provided by US Department of Commerce
🔹Translation fees
🔹Design of market media
🔹Tradeshow exhibitions
🔹Participate in export training workshops
🔹Reverse trade missions
🔹Procurement of consultancy services
🔹Other export initiatives as approved by Associate Administrator at SBA

Total Grant Amount FY24 Georgia award is $310,000. Contact the representative below to learn more about how to apply for STEP funds.

▶ Alice Deakins Carson, ACarson@georgia.org and her number is 404-962-4112