New York Enables Small Businesses to Expand Their Global Reach through STEP

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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provided Empire State Development (ESD) nearly $1 million in funding in the latest round of the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP).

STEP connects businesses in New York state to exporting opportunities abroad through grants for qualifying small and medium-sized businesses.

Learn more about how STEP enables small businesses to expand their global reach and competitiveness.

For information on STEP and to apply for funding if you are a business based in New York, click here.

U.S. SBA Awards Washington State a $1 Million STEP Grant to Fuel Exports

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The Washington State Department of Commerce again tops the list of states awarded funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help state small businesses grow through exporting. Washington’s $1 million State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant is the largest awarded from a total $20 million to 49 states in this 11th year of the program.

Read on to learn more.

Go State of Washington on Exports!

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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has awarded the Washington State Department of Commerce a tenth year of funding to help state small businesses grow through exporting.

The $1.4 million grant to Washington, part of the SBA’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), is one of the two largest awarded from a total $20 million to 52 states and territory international trade agencies – Michigan also received $1.4 million.

For information about STEP export vouchers, Go Global or other Commerce programs that help Washington businesses grow, expand and locate in Washington State, please visit ChooseWashington.com.

State Trade Expansion Program Helps Small Businesses Start or Expand Export Activities

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The U.S. Small Business Administration remains committed to ensuring small firms in Colorado and across the U.S. have the tools and resources they need to take their business global.   In this example, they have awarded CO state $186,140 through its State Trade Expansion Program.  Launched in 2011, this program allows 56 U.S. entities to compete for federal matching-fund awards that help small businesses start or expand export activities.

With the help of STEP funds, Gold [Andrew Gold, president and founder of Aircraft Technical Book Co., a small business based in Tabernash, Colorado] attended a trade show in India and engaged online resources in search of new customers and partnerships. Today, the nine-person company is expanding to develop a new certification for aviation and aerospace avionics technicians in the U.S. and in Europe and in turn setting up ATBC to expand to serve a new untapped market.

Read more:  Program helps small firms export on a global scale

Meanwhile, contact the SBA to speak to an export finance manager about the counseling, training and financing opportunities available to help your mall business grow and compete across borders.

Hey Delaware Business Owners: Claim Your Money for Exports!

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Global Delaware – the Delaware Department of State’s international economic development office – is requesting applications from small- and mid-sized companies interested in using the funds before the September 30th deadline.

Money is specifically set aside to help local businesses increase their export sales.  Ever heard of the expression, "Use it or lose it?"  Well that is what is going to happen if Delaware business owners don't claim this money for export activity.

The funds are part of a $277,000 grant Global Delaware received last year through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program – the largest single award the state has ever received from the program.

A good portion is still left.  If you are located in Delaware and export, contact Global Delaware.

Read more:  Time running out on grants to help Delaware companies go global

U.S. Small Business Administration Announces STEP Program Awards for 2014

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SBA announced today that 24 awards will be made to states to support activities to increase exporting by small businesses.  The State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program was appropriated $8 million to award by September 30, 2014.

The STEP program has two objectives: 1) increase the number of small businesses that begin to export and 2) increase the value of exports for small businesses that currently export. 

Learn more here.

For a quick jump to the list of awardees and more information on STEP, visit:
http://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/oit/resources/14315

Related articles:

• STEP 101 (3/19/14)
• Take a STEP Up to International Trade (2/26/14)

State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program 101

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What's all this talk about STEP?  Let's first start with what it stands for:  State Trade and Export Promotion Program.  It is a three-year pilot program offered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that aims to provide entrepreneurs and small business owners a way to boost their businesses through exports. In other words, raise the dollar level of your exports.

What can STEP do for you?  Find out below.

What is the STEP Program?

Related article:  Take a STEP Up to International Trade

Take a STEP Up to International Trade

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As Small Business Trends reports:

The STEP (State Trade and Export Promotion Program) offered by the Small Business Administration aims to offer small businesses in the U.S. a way to reach a global market. And right now, supporters of the program are in position in Washington, D.C., to get the program renewed.

According to the Office of International Trade Resources, here's what the STEP grants will do for a small business owner, provided they utilize the offerings:

• support for small business participation in foreign trade missions and foreign market sales trips;
• subscription to services by the Department of Commerce;
• website translation fees;
• design of international marketing media;
• trade show exhibitions;
• participation in training workshops; and
• other export initiatives determined to be appropriate by the SBA.

Learn more: Supporters Urge Renewal of State Trade and Export Promotion Program

This is definitely a step in the right direction towards helping small businesses expand internationally!