Amount: up to $15,000 of reimbursed costs.

Under the State Trade Expansion Program, the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment (“MOITI”) through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), will provide grants to eligible, approved Massachusetts small businesses for the purpose of increasing export sales of their goods and services.

Eligibility Requirements

Small businesses engaged in STEP-supported export activities must be an export-ready U.S. company seeking to export goods or services of U.S. origin or have at least 51% U.S. content.

*STEP applicants should reference existing U.S. government regulatory guidance for determination of U.S. content.

Eligible Activities

The STEP Program is intended to help offset international business development and related marketing costs for small businesses. Grant proceeds may be used for specific international business development and marketing costs, including:

  • Overseas trade show or conference exhibition and directly related expenses (e.g., booth space, shipping charges, carnets, attendance in conjunction with exhibiting, space to deliver technical sales seminars, etc.
  • U.S. Department of Commerce international business development services (e.g., Gold Key Service, International Partner Search with Virtual Introductions, Single Company Promotion, International Company Profile, trade missions and other export matchmaking services, etc.
  • Cost of compliance testing an existing product for entry into an export market
  • Design of export market-specific marketing media (including design and translation of brochures, targeted advertising in industry-appropriate media, etc. – does NOT include printing)
  • Localization of websites for target export markets (including translation of websites, technical localization, and search engine optimization for export markets)
  • Research tool subscription for targeted export market research
  • International intellectual property protection filing fees with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
  • Export credit insurance policy fees through the Export-Import Bank of the United States

Selection Criteria

In scoring applications and awarding grants, the Massachusetts Export Center will consider the following:

  • the applicant’s financial strength and ability to sustain export sales beyond the grant period;
  • the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to increasing export sales;
  • likelihood that the STEP-funded activity will lead to new or increased export sales;
  • likelihood that the STEP-funded activity will lead to job creation and economic impact;
  • and that STEP-funded activity meet the needs of the applicant and will provide for long-term growth.

Amount of the Grant

Eligible businesses may apply for grants ranging from a minimum of $6,000 to a maximum of $15,000 per business to reimburse for costs associated with pre-approved projects, activities or services undertaken during the period October 1, 2023 to March 31, 2025.

Each grant recipient will be required to provide a match to cover at least a portion of the total approved cost for any project, activity or service (the “Match”). New-to-export firms have a minimum of 10% match requirement and all other firms have a minimum of 20% match requirement.