Grants / Small Business Administration / Small Business Administration

SB-OIT-STEP-2026-01: State Trade Expansion Program 2026

Closed Closed August 18, 2026 Opportunity SB-OIT-STEP-2026-01 ☆ Save

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 2026.

• Award ceiling$900,000
• Award floor$100,000
• Expected awards55
• Cost sharingRequired
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to nonprofits, colleges and universities and state and local governments.

• State governments
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education

The Small Business Act provides in § 22(l)(1)(E) (15 USC § 649(l)(1)(E)) provides that STEP grants may be awarded only to “states,” meaning any of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. Therefore, only non-federal entities that meet this definition are eligible to apply for and administer an award under this Notice of Funding Opportunity. For purposes of this Notice of Funding Opportunity, the term “eligible non-federal entity” means a state agency or other entity that, prior to the date of application for this announcement, has been officially designated by the state governor, or equivalent thereof (e.g., mayor of the District of Columbia), as the sole applicant and lead entity for conducting the State’s trade and export activities.i. The organizational structure of the state’s designated international trade arm must show an official agency relationship with state government, and the state must provide financial backing in meeting the required match amount and show support for program activities.ii. Only those proposals accompanied by the written designation of the state governor, or his/her designee, may apply for funding consideration.iii. Should the governor, or equivalent thereof, assign to a designee the signatory responsibility for the designation letter, the designation letter must include an acknowledgement that the governor, or his/her equivalent, has authorized the designee to sign the letter on his/her behalfiv. For insular areas, the equivalent of a state governor is the appropriate signatory.

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past State Trade Expansion awards averaged $407,134; this notice allows up to $900,000 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

State Trade Expansion Program

Category: Business and Commerce.

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.