Amount: up to $10,000 per funding period.
Empire State Development (ESD) is working in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to increase the number of small businesses that begin to export; increase the value of exports for small businesses that currently export; and increase the number of small businesses exploring significant new trade opportunities.
Eligibility requirements
Eligible Companies
- A for-profit business headquartered and registered to do business in New York State with the New York State Department of State.
- Manufacture, assemble and/or distribute a product or provide an exportable service. If you are not the manufacturer of the product you must have the rights to export as an authorized distributor.
- The product(s) or service(s) must be export ready and already selling in the U.S. market and/or internationally.
- In business for at least one year ending on the date on which assistance is provided.
- Qualify as an “eligible small business concern” and meet SBA size standards.
- Have access to sufficient resources to bear the costs associated with trade.
- Have a product or service for export that contains at least 51% United States content (see calculation table within guidelines document).
- Not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for disbarment, declared ineligible and/or voluntarily excluded from participation by any federal department or agency.
- In good standing with all New York State government agencies.
- Site visits and/or telephone interviews may be conducted to further determine a company’s eligibility.
Ineligible Industries (include but are not limited to)
- Businesses acting as intermediaries for other companies
- Law firms
- Non-profit organizations
- Educational institutions
- Companies involved with cannabis
- Retail
- Companies that are recruiting foreign investment
Eligible activities
Approved STEP funds can assist New York State businesses with:
- Participation in programmed foreign trade missions
- Subscription to services provided by the Department of Commerce
- Trade show exhibition (international and qualified domestic trade shows)
- Participation in export training workshops
- Qualified foreign market sales trips
- Website Content/Foreign Language Translation
- Development of International Marketing Campaign(s)
- Compliance Testing
- Consultancy Services
- Export Credit Insurance Premium Reimbursement
* Speaking engagements at a conference is an ineligible activity
Reimbursement Schedule and Details
ESD staff will review all applications and make a determination regarding the applicant’s eligibility within 30 business days of receipt of the application. The grant is awarded in the form of a reimbursement.
This program does not allow for reimbursement of retroactive trade activities that have already been completed. If changes occur to a company’s planned arrangements, failure to provide adequate notice to ESD officials of the changes may void any awarded funds.
Eligibility Timeline
The funding period for the STEP 11 program is September 30, 2023 – December 31, 2024.
Amount of the Grant
Each company may receive a maximum combined award total of up to $10,000 (which should be 60% of the total eligible costs) per funding period.
STEP awards are issued on a first-come, first-served basis until the program funds are expended.