2015 SBA Export Funds Now Available in 10 States
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
Authorized Representative:
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
Authorized Representative:
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
Authorized Representative:
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
Authorized Representative:
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
Authorized Representative:
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
Authorized Representative:
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
Authorized Representative:
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
Authorized Representative:
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
Authorized Representative:
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
Authorized Representative:
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.
