The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant offers eligible Delaware businesses assistance to help launch or expand export activity. Grant funds can be used to reimburse Delaware businesses for up to 50 percent of all pre-approved, eligible, export marketing expenses, up to a maximum of $7,000 per fiscal year, per company. Delaware companies can receive funding for a maximum of three times, per country market, in a five-year period. For more information, contact the Export Delaware Team.

Here are some examples of how you can use STEP Grant funds to expand your exports: 

• Booth fees for exhibiting at a tradeshow overseas
• Travel expenses (hotel and airfare) for visiting potential clients or distributors in another country
• Fees to work with the US Commercial Service on International Partner Search
• Fees associated with obtaining your CE Mark
• Expenses for translating your product manual into another language
• Expenses for optimizing and localizing your website for a foreign market

Please note that the STEP Grant is only available to companies with a physical operation and employees in Delaware.

APPLY NOW

STEP Grant Guildines

STEP Grant Allowable Expense Reimbursements:

Please note that STEP Grant funds may only be used to cover the expenses of one traveler per company. An exception may be made if the second traveler is a technical person who is needed to facilitate sales.

• Airfare (consistent with Fly America Act guidelines)
• Ground transportation fees
• Baggage fees
• Parking fees
• Lodging (based on GSA/Department of State per diem rates, must be preapproved)
• Registration fees and booth space for trade shows
• Trade mission fees (U.S. Department of Commerce)
• Currency exchange fees
• Fees for shipping sample products (capped at $4,000)
• Cost of compliance testing an existing product for entry into an export market (capped at $6,000)
• Export research tool subscription used to assist STEP Clients with market research (capped at $2,000 per award year)
• Website translation into a foreign language, search engine optimization, and localization services (capped at $10,000)
• Design of marketing media (capped at $6,000) commensurate with STEP’s statutory objectives deemed appropriate and approved in advance by SBA
• Export conferences, meetings, symposium or training programs that pertain to STEP’s statutory objectives deemed appropriate and approved in advance by SBA

STEP Grant Unallowable Expense Reimbursements:

• Passport or visa fees
• Meals
• Immunizations
• Expenses related to entertaining current or prospective clients or government officials
• New product development or alteration of existing products
• Cellphones and cellphone charges
• Television and radio production
• Efforts to create or augment marketing and advertising campaigns to draw international visitors to a State
• Cost for printing marketing materials
• Cost for development and/or design of a website for a company
• Cost for enhancement and/or development of an existing company’s product
• Costs associated with individuals attendance at meetings, conferences and symposiums

Funded in part through a Grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Additional Funding For Export Activities

Additional capital resources are available from the federal government and other organizations for export activities. Options range from tax credits to low interest loans, and other financing plans. Search here to find the right option for your business.