State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant

The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant helps eligible Colorado small businesses expand internationally by offsetting costs associated with international business development and export activities. The program is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration and administered to businesses by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade's Global Business Development division. The program supports companies that are new to exporting or are expanding into new export markets. A company may receive up to $15,000 in a year. For the program funding described in the source, the federal share is 67 percent, or $770,000, the non-federal share is 33 percent, or $256,666, and the total program cost is $1,026,666. STEP funding can support international trade shows, international business meetings and trips, market research, marketing materials for new markets, compliance testing, and other eligible export development activities. Eligible costs include qualifying airfare, ground transportation, parking, baggage fees, meals and lodging based on applicable per diem rates, trade show registration and booth space, trade mission fees, export consulting, international intellectual property protection, currency exchange fees, certain reverse trade mission costs, visas, travel insurance, shipping samples to trade shows or trade missions, compliance testing of existing products, translation, search engine optimization, localization, e-commerce fees, appropriate marketing media, and attorney review of international distributor agreements. Eligible U.S. Commercial Service offerings also include market intelligence, matchmaking, international partner searches, e-commerce services, company profiles, product or service promotion, virtual fairs, and related export services. Applicants must be registered with the Colorado Secretary of State and be in Good Standing. A company must have its headquarters in Colorado or at least 50 percent of its employees based in Colorado. It must be a U.S. company seeking to export goods or services of U.S. origin or containing at least 51 percent U.S. content, and it must have been in existence for at least one year as of the date it would begin using STEP funds. Applicants must be new to exporting or expanding to a new export market, have a commercialized product or service available for export, be export-ready, and meet the applicable industry-based small business size standard or applicable alternate size standard. Global Business Development evaluates export readiness based on the company's ability to meet new customer demand, provide customer service to foreign buyers, and comply with export regulations and certifications. Companies must apply directly through the OEDIT application portal; third-party consultants, agents, and representatives may not apply on behalf of a client company or their own consultant firm. Applicants log in or create an account, although new portal users may require several days for manual account activation. The application is located under the Advanced Industries Funding dropdown menu. The application requests information about the company's financial health, including proof of profitability; the products or services it intends to export; the reason for selecting the target market; the planned use of grant funds; a projected budget for total forecasted expenses; and estimates of export sales immediately after and six months after use of the funds. Applicants must also submit signed and dated SBA Certification Regarding Debarment and SBA Self-Representation forms. The project budget should identify expenses in detail and should not use overly generic personnel or equipment categories or include equipment and salaries needed for operations outside the proposed project. The application is currently described as open. For GBD-supported trade shows, applicants must use the application window stated for the applicable trade show. For other trade shows and other international business development activities, companies are instructed to apply at least four to six weeks before the relevant activity. During the 2026 to 2027 grant period, GBD-supported events include Aero India in February 2027, Mobile World Congress and Smart Energy Week in March 2027, Web Summit Vancouver in May 2027, Laser World of Photonics in June 2027, and World Health Expo Kuala Lumpur in July 2027. Companies interested in a GBD-supported show are directed to contact the program manager with a short description of the company and the trade show of interest. Applications typically require three to four weeks for review and are evaluated by a panel. Qualifying for the program does not guarantee the full amount requested because awards may be reduced based on the strength of applications and the number of applicants. Successful companies receive a detailed commitment letter identifying the approved export development project or activities, timing, and approved expenses in U.S. dollars. STEP operates on a reimbursement basis after completion of the trip or activity. Expenses should be submitted within 30 days, and reimbursement may be affected if a company fails to fulfill its program obligations or provide required receipts and summaries. Grantees also agree to provide export sales information related to STEP funding and respond to surveys every six months for up to three years. The named program contact is Sophia Gonzalez-Mayagoitia, International Export Grant Manager, at 720-703-2471. The source also provides the general OEDIT contact email oedit.info@state.co.us.

Apply at least four to six weeks before non-GBD trade shows or other international business development activities; allow several days for activation of a new OEDIT portal account; demonstrate profitability and export readiness, including capacity to meet demand, serve foreign buyers, and comply with export regulations; clearly explain why the target market was selected and how funds will be used; provide specific budget descriptions rather than generic personnel or equipment categories; submit reimbursement expenses within 30 days after the trip or activity.