Looking for grant funding to assist with international expansion?
The STEP program makes funds available to qualifying Idaho companies for international marketing campaigns to export their products. We anticipate the next round of the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant funding will be awarded to states this summer.
In anticipation of this potential award, we are sending this save-the-date to notify you of our plans for opening for applications.
Our goal is to open on August 2, 2021, for eligible projects occurring between September 30, 2021, and September 29, 2022.
APPLICATION DUE BY:
3:00 p.m. MDT Monday, August 23, 2021
Click here for program guidelines.
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Idaho Online Global Program (OGP)
Individual awards ranging between $2,000 minimum up to $9,000 maximum are available for projects falling between September 30, 2021, and September 29, 2022. Companies may only submit one application under this opportunity, multiple rounds dependent upon the availability of funds.
A 25% cash match is required (for every authorized $100 spent, $75 will be reimbursed).
Eligible projects include:
- E-commerce and website fees (any maintenance or monitoring activities must be concluded by the end of the grant’s period of performance)
- Design and development of website, with an international focus
- Oversight and maintenance and monitoring fees for search engine optimization
- Online market listing fees
- E-commerce platform fees, including hosting and/or maintenance fees
- Expenses to set up websites to accept international payments
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Financial Assistance Awards (FAA)
Individual awards ranging between $2,000 minimum up to $9,000 maximum are available for your own eligible activity falling between September 30, 2021, and September 29, 2022. Companies may only submit one application under this opportunity, multiple rounds dependent upon the availability of funds.
A 25% cash match is required (for every authorized $100 spent, $75 will be reimbursed).
Eligible activities include:
- Foreign market sales trip
- Governor’s or foreign trade mission
- Trades show, international or domestic*
- Services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce
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State-Led Industry Trade Shows
Below is a list of upcoming state-led industry trade shows.
- MEDICAL Taiwan – Taipei, Taiwan – October 14-16, 2021
- Bio Asia Taiwan – Taipei, Taiwan – November 4-7, 2021
- ISPO Beijing – Beijing, China – December 28-30, 2021
- Mexican Healthy Products Summit – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – January 27-29, 2022
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Things You Can do Now
To be prepared here’s a list of things you can do now:
- Send an email to Tina Salisbury, STEP Grant Project Director
- Receive an example copy of the questions you will see in the application in the online portal system so you can get a bit of a head start
- Assistance determining eligibility under SBA requirements
- Get introduced to your industry’s International Trade Specialist at the Idaho Department of Commerce or the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. They are here to help you and can be a valuable resource during the application process including tips before you upload your submission (time permitting)
- New portal account set-up (only available Monday-Friday, minimum of 48 hours prior to application due date)
- Applications are only accepted online at Idaho Commerce’s Grant Portal
- Subscribe to our newsletter to receive announcements via email
- Start thinking ahead about potential projects for which you would like to apply for and review guidelines.
- The review and scoring process is very competitive, use the helpful links/docs and required SBA documents on the STEP webpage and watch the STEP Best Practices Webinar.