Opportunity Information: Apply for OIT STEP 2018 01
The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help state governments support small business exporting and related trade expansion activities. The funding is categorized under Business and Commerce (CFDA 59.061) and is structured as a cost-share program, meaning states must contribute matching funds alongside the federal award. The opportunity listed up to 40 expected awards, with an award ceiling of $900,000 per award. The funding announcement referenced here was created on March 30, 2018, with an original closing date of May 2, 2018.
A key feature of this STEP announcement is that the required state match depends on whether a state is considered a "high export volume" state, based on U.S. Census Bureau export data by state. Texas, California, and Washington were designated as high export volume states for this funding opportunity. Those states have a lower federal cost share and a higher required match: the federal share is capped at 65 percent of total project costs, and the state must cover the remaining 35 percent. Put another way, for every $1.00 in federal STEP funds requested, these states must provide $0.53846 in matching funds.
All other states (those not classified as high export volume) receive a more favorable match ratio. For these states, the federal share can be up to 75 percent of total project costs, with the state responsible for the remaining 25 percent. In practical terms, for every $1.00 in federal funds requested, these states must provide $0.333333 in matching funds. This design effectively asks higher-exporting states to contribute more of their own resources while giving additional leverage to states with lower export volumes.
The announcement also includes a specific matching-funds accommodation for certain U.S. insular areas. If the applicant in an insular area is a non-federal entity that is an agency or instrumentality of the territorial government, SBA may waive up to $200,000 of the otherwise required match, consistent with 48 U.S.C. 1469a. This waiver provision applies if a STEP award is made to American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. If the insular area applicant is not an agency or instrumentality of the territorial government, then the full matching requirement still applies without the waiver.
The match itself has strict composition and sourcing rules. Matching funds must be made up of at least 50 percent cash, and no more than 50 percent may come from indirect costs or in-kind contributions. Matching funds cannot come from any federal program, which prevents states from using other federal dollars to satisfy the non-federal share requirement. Personnel salary and fringe benefits contributed by the non-federal entity can count as cash match under the rules described. Finally, program income cannot be used to meet the matching requirement, meaning any revenue generated from STEP-supported activities must not be counted toward the required state contribution.
In short, this STEP grant opportunity provides SBA funding to state governments to expand small business exporting, but it requires states to share in the costs. High export volume states (TX, CA, WA) must meet a 65/35 federal-to-state split, while other states operate under a 75/25 split. The announcement also sets clear limits on what types of funds can be used as match, emphasizes a minimum cash contribution, and offers a limited match waiver for certain territorial government entities in U.S. insular areas.Apply for OIT STEP 2018 01
- The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.061.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 30, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 02, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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