The North Dakota Trade Office is thrilled to announce we have once again been selected as a State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant recipient for the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2024. The $350,000 worth of funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)—an increase of $50,000 from our 2023 award—will aid and empower small businesses across ND while encouraging international export expansion. The STEP grant is awarded to state international trade agencies throughout the country proceeding a competitive application process.
From there, each state is given the freedom to mold their programs around the needs of their exporters. STEPND is a popular resource for new and existing exporters, with a high volume of applicants each year. The NDTO is excited to continue providing ND businesses with the support they need in order to continue growing internationally and producing goods and services that stimulate our economy.
Opportunities made possible through the STEPND program include organized trade missions, foreign market sales trips, market research, international marketing, translation of marketing materials, and more. Over the years, we have seen great success in the utilization of STEPND funding to pursue these various opportunities and strengthen ND’s position in the global trade network.
This year marks the 71st year the Small Business Administration has supported American businesses. Since its inception in 2010, the STEP program has awarded $255 million to state international trade agencies and has reported $6.8 billion in exports from grant recipients. Since 95% of the world’s consumers and two-thirds of all purchasing power are located outside the United States, this grant program plays a critical role in providing access to capital, access to markets, and access to buyers.
How to Apply
Applications open on October 1, 2024.
The program will accept applications for activities occurring from September 30, 2024, through September 29, 2026, or until it is fully allocated. Any North Dakota small business as defined under SBA guidelines is eligible to apply. The selection of companies will be first-come, first-serve for up to two activities per company. Companies and activities must be eligible for the grant when applications are submitted, and all projects must be approved before the activity takes place.
Applications will be available on October 1, 2024, and can be found here: https://ndto.com/grants/step-nd/.
Please read all project guidelines and details to understand the importance of receiving federal funding.
NDTO will facilitate STEPND 2024 with the help of partners, including the North Dakota District Office of the SBA, the North Dakota Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the North Dakota Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Commercial Service.
About the North Dakota Trade Office and Small Business Administration
The North Dakota Trade Office is a membership-based, private/public partnership that provides education, research, advocacy, organization, and leadership so that NDTO members and North Dakota companies can increase exports and grow their international business.
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
For more information about N.D.’s STEP program, please reach out to Mathew@ndto.com.