The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is accepting proposals from eligible state entities interested in and capable of providing assistance and guidance to eligible small business concerns (ESBCs) to increase the number of such firms that export and the dollar value of small business exports.
Donor Name: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/06/2024
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The underlying premise of STEP is to supplement non-federal entities’ funds for export activities, not to substitute federal funds to cover costs that applicants would normally or otherwise cover. Non-federal entities’ proposed use of federal funds for STEP will be limited to the below statutory uses of funds that directly benefit ESBCs to become an exporter, increase their export sales, and/or increase new export opportunities.
STEP Priorities
To ensure the full utilization of all STEP funds, it is strongly recommended that every non-federal entity request a federal award amount that can be managed and realistically expended within a 24-month period of performance. A non-federal entity’s technical proposal and budget should be clearly focused and targeted based on the top priority exporting needs of small businesses in the
non-federal entity’s state that addresses the key performance measures outlined below.
Key Performance Measures
- Reach 100% utilization of the award.
- Increase the number of ESBCs in the state that export.
- Increase the value of exports by ESBCs in the state.
- Increase the number of ESBCs exploring significant new trade opportunities.
- Increase the number of ESBCs in Small Business Communities that export.
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $900,000
- Award Floor: $100,000
Project Period
An award under this announcement will be made for a two-year period of performance (eight quarters).
Eligibility Criteria
The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 provides that STEP grants may be awarded only to “states,” meaning any of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. Therefore, only non-federal entities that meet this definition are eligible to apply for and administer an award under this Notice of Funding Opportunity.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
