The Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). This grant, made permanent by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, provides vital financial assistance to States and equivalent entities. The core purpose of the STEP initiative is to significantly enhance the export capabilities of eligible small business concerns (ESBCs) across the United States. Through these grants, the program seeks to achieve three key objectives: fundamentally increase the overall number of U.S. small businesses engaged in exporting, boost the total dollar value generated from their exports, and encourage more U.S. small businesses to explore and capitalize on significant new international trade opportunities. This strategic funding directly supports the development of export activities, fostering economic growth and global competitiveness for American small enterprises in the international market.
Opportunity ID: 359715
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | SB-OITST-25-001 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM (STEP) |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Business and Commerce Community Development |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 55 |
| Assistance Listings: | 59.061 — State Trade Expansion |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | Yes |
| Version: | Synopsis 3 |
| Posted Date: | Jun 16, 2025 |
| Last Updated Date: | Jul 11, 2025 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Jul 31, 2025 No Explanation |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Jul 31, 2025 No Explanation |
| Archive Date: | Aug 30, 2025 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | – |
| Award Ceiling: | $900,000 |
| Award Floor: | $100,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | State governments |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | – |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Small Business Administration |
| Description: | The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (HR 644), signed into law on February 24, 2016, made the State Trade Expansion Program a permanent provision of the Small Business Act to make grants to States, and the equivalent thereof, to carry out projects that support developing exports by eligible small business concerns (ESBCs) (as defined in Section 8.1.5). The objective of STEP is to increase (1) the number of U.S. small businesses that export, (2) the dollar value of exports, and (3) the number of U.S. small businesses exploring significant new trade opportunities (as defined in 8.1.15). |
| Link to Additional Information: | STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM (STEP) |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
Grants.gov Contact Center
Phone Number: 1-800-518-4726 Hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The contact center is closed on federal holidays. |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
| No Explanation | Jul 11, 2025 | |
| Jun 16, 2025 | ||
| Jun 16, 2025 |
DISPLAYING: Synopsis 3
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | SB-OITST-25-001 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM (STEP) |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Business and Commerce Community Development |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 55 |
| Assistance Listings: | 59.061 — State Trade Expansion |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | Yes |
| Version: | Synopsis 3 |
| Posted Date: | Jun 16, 2025 |
| Last Updated Date: | Jul 11, 2025 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Jul 31, 2025 No Explanation |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Jul 31, 2025 No Explanation |
| Archive Date: | Aug 30, 2025 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | – |
| Award Ceiling: | $900,000 |
| Award Floor: | $100,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | State governments |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | – |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Small Business Administration |
| Description: | The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (HR 644), signed into law on February 24, 2016, made the State Trade Expansion Program a permanent provision of the Small Business Act to make grants to States, and the equivalent thereof, to carry out projects that support developing exports by eligible small business concerns (ESBCs) (as defined in Section 8.1.5). The objective of STEP is to increase (1) the number of U.S. small businesses that export, (2) the dollar value of exports, and (3) the number of U.S. small businesses exploring significant new trade opportunities (as defined in 8.1.15). |
| Link to Additional Information: | STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM (STEP) |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
Grants.gov Contact Center
Phone Number: 1-800-518-4726 Hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The contact center is closed on federal holidays. |
DISPLAYING: Synopsis 2
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | SB-OITST-25-001 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM (STEP) |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Business and Commerce Community Development |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 55 |
| Assistance Listings: | 59.061 — State Trade Expansion |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | Yes |
| Version: | Synopsis 2 |
| Posted Date: | Jun 16, 2025 |
| Last Updated Date: | Jul 11, 2025 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | – |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Jul 31, 2025 No Explanation |
| Archive Date: | Aug 30, 2025 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | – |
| Award Ceiling: | $900,000 |
| Award Floor: | $100,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | State governments |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | – |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Small Business Administration |
| Description: | The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (HR 644), signed into law on February 24, 2016, made the State Trade Expansion Program a permanent provision of the Small Business Act to make grants to States, and the equivalent thereof, to carry out projects that support developing exports by eligible small business concerns (ESBCs) (as defined in Section 8.1.5). The objective of STEP is to increase (1) the number of U.S. small businesses that export, (2) the dollar value of exports, and (3) the number of U.S. small businesses exploring significant new trade opportunities (as defined in 8.1.15). |
| Link to Additional Information: | STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM (STEP) |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
Grants.gov Contact Center
Phone Number: 1-800-518-4726 Hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The contact center is closed on federal holidays. |
DISPLAYING: Synopsis 1
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | SB-OITST-25-001 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM (STEP) |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Business and Commerce Community Development |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 55 |
| Assistance Listings: | 59.061 — State Trade Expansion |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | Yes |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Jun 16, 2025 |
| Last Updated Date: | Jun 16, 2025 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | – |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Jul 31, 2025 No Explanation |
| Archive Date: | Aug 30, 2025 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | – |
| Award Ceiling: | $900,000 |
| Award Floor: | $100,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | State governments |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | – |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Small Business Administration |
| Description: | The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (HR 644), signed into law on February 24, 2016, made the State Trade Expansion Program a permanent provision of the Small Business Act to make grants to States, and the equivalent thereof, to carry out projects that support developing exports by eligible small business concerns (ESBCs) (as defined in Section 8.1.5). The objective of STEP is to increase (1) the number of U.S. small businesses that export, (2) the dollar value of exports, and (3) the number of U.S. small businesses exploring significant new trade opportunities (as defined in 8.1.15). |
| Link to Additional Information: | STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM (STEP) |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
Grants.gov Contact Center
Phone Number: 1-800-518-4726 Hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The contact center is closed on federal holidays. |
Related Documents
Folder 359715 Full Announcement-Full Announcement -> OED – OMT FY25 STEP NOFO.pdf
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | Grants.gov Contact Center Phone Number: 1-800-518-4726 Hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The contact center is closed on federal holidays. |
| Who Can Apply: | Organization Applicants |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59.061 | SB-OITST-25-001 | SB-OITST-25-001 | PKG00290972 | Jun 16, 2025 | Jul 31, 2025 | View |
Package 1
Mandatory forms
359715 SF424_4_0-4.0.pdf
359715 SF424A-1.0.pdf
359715 BudgetNarrativeAttachments_1_2-1.2.pdf
359715 AttachmentForm_1_2-1.2.pdf
Optional forms
359715 OtherNarrativeAttachments_1_2-1.2.pdf
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