OIT-STEP-2023-01: State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Small Business Administration notices from 2023.
Small Business Administration offered grants of up to $1.4 million (at least $100,000) to state and local governments. It expected to make about 56 awards worth $20.0 million in total. Applications closed on May 19, 2023.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed February 28, 2023. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$1.4 million
- Award floor$100,000
- Total funding$20.0 million
- Expected awards56
- Cost sharingRequired
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB-OITST-25-001 | June 16, 2025 | Closed July 31, 2025 | Closed |
| OIT-STEP-2023-02 | March 1, 2023 | Closed March 15, 2023 | Closed |
| SB-OITST-22-001 | March 31, 2022 | Closed May 31, 2022 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | February 27, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | May 19, 2023 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | June 18, 2023 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to state and local governments.
- State governments
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past State Trade Expansion awards averaged $407,134; this notice allows up to $1.4 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (77% over five years) went to state and local governments.
- The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.
What the grant funds
Under 15 U.S.C. § 649(l), the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) authorizes SBA to make grants to States, and the equivalent thereof, to carry out projects that help develop 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).
Who has won State Trade Expansion grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, State Trade Expansion (59.061) awarded $70.4 million across 173 grant awards, an average of $407,134 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington State Department of Commerce | Washington | 4 | $5.3 million |
| Michigan Strategic Fund | Michigan | 4 | $4.7 million |
| New Jersey Department of State | New Jersey | 4 | $4.2 million |
| Department of Commerce Montana | Montana | 4 | $3.3 million |
| Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Inc. | North Carolina | 4 | $3.3 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is OIT-STEP-2023-01 still open?
No. It closed on May 19, 2023.
Who can apply for State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)?
Small Business Administration accepted applications from state and local governments.
What is the deadline for State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)?
Closed May 19, 2023. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $1.4 million each. About $20.0 million in total across about 56 awards.
Who has won State Trade Expansion grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Washington State Department of Commerce, Michigan Strategic Fund, New Jersey Department of State. The program made 173 awards worth $70.4 million in that time.