The Minnesota Trade Office (MTO), an office within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, is soliciting applications for funding for eligible Minnesota-based small businesses to participate in export development activities that will assist the company to begin exporting or increase their exports from Minnesota.
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/30/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The purpose of the State of Minnesota STEP grant is to provide financial and technical assistance to eligible Minnesota small businesses with an active interest in exporting products or services to foreign markets.
Funding Information
- Approximately $300,000 is available.
- This grant requires the recipient to expend matching funds equal to 50% of the total grant award with a cap of $7,500 for Fiscal Year 2026.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible companies must:
- Fit the SBA definition of a small business, based on annual sales or number of employees. These standards can be found;
- Have been in operation for at least one year at the time of application;
- Be generating revenue based on U.S. operations;
- Not be debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any federal department or agency;
- Have provided MTO with a strategic plan for exporting (except if applying for reimbursement for export training) in the application;
- Have operations in Minnesota that involve the research, design, manufacture, processing, assembly or distribution of products, or provide an exportable service. More than 50% of the value of the product or service being promoted must be produced in Minnesota.
- Have done research to determine if the products or services are appropriate for the target market, and can be exported to that market;
- Agree to answer surveys and provide information on program outcomes;
- Be in compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations; and
- Must comply and cooperate with any additional requests by the grant administrator.
For more information, visit DEED.
