STEP Grant: State Trade and Export Promotion

The State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant, funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, helps Kansas non-exporters to get started and existing exporters to export more.Since the grant’s inception in 2012, more than 30 Kansas small businesses have participated and achieved $9.2 million in actual export sales.
In order to further broaden Kansas’ exporter base and increase the export value and volume, the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Kansas Department of Agriculture have joined forces during the 2015 grant year to focus on three main areas: export training, foreign trade shows and trade missions, and market entry support.

Export Training
Funding assistance will be provided to eligible small businesses to take part in export seminars and training courses offered by our federal and local resource partners.
Foreign Trade Shows and Missions
In order to help Kansas small businesses enter new markets and gain new international customers, the Department of Commerce will offer several foreign trade show opportunities.
Market Entry Support
Commerce will provide website and marketing product funding opportunities and will employ U.S. Commercial Service’s expertise and programs to help eligible small businesses enter new markets.