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The Florida State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant

STEP Grant

What is STEP?

The Florida State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant offers eligible Florida small and medium-sized businesses assistance in entering and expanding into international markets. Grant funds are used to reimburse Florida businesses for pre-approved, eligible export marketing expenses. The program is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and administered by SelectFlorida on behalf of the State of Florida.

The program is focused on achieving three key goals:

  • Increasing the number of small- and medium-sized businesses exporting.
  • Boosting the economic impact of Florida’s exports by driving a higher dollar value of goods and services sold abroad.
  • Increasing the number of new export opportunities and expansions for Florida small- and medium-sized businesses, helping them tap into foreign markets and diversify their international presence.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible to receive STEP grant funding, an organization must meet all criteria below:

  • Must be U.S. owned and operated for-profit business registered with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) that assembles, manufactures, and/or distributes a product or provides an exportable service, in Florida at the time of application.
  • Must be in accordance with SBA guidelines and size standards: Size Standards | Size Standards Tool
  • Must be in good standing with all applicable regulatory agencies.
  • Must have active business operations in the State of Florida for at least one year at the time the approved export activity takes place.
  • Must have at least one product or service this is exportable and sufficiently developed for international opportunities.
  • Must be seeking to export a product or service that is EITHER: of U.S. origin; OR has at least 51% U.S. content: Determine U.S. Content.
  • Must have sufficient resources to cover the costs associated with exporting, which can include packing, shipping, freight, and customs brokerage costs.
  • Must be export ready or utilizing the grant to become export ready.
  • Must be new to exporting, seeking to expand exports, and/or seeking to access new international markets.
  • Must agree to submit all required reports and documents, share export results, and be featured in social media posts, pictures, videos, testimonials, press releases, and other similar content.

Who is Ineligible?

Businesses that meet any of the criteria below are not eligible to receive STEP grant funding:

  • A business that is considered any size other than small according to SBA size standards.
  • A business based in a foreign country.
  • A business engaged in any activity that is illegal under federal, state, or local law or that can reasonably be determined to support or facilitate any activity that is illegal under federal, state, or local law.
  • A business that derives more than one-third of its gross annual revenue from legal gambling activities; presents live performances of a prurient sexual nature or derives more than a de minimus amount of revenue from the sale of products or services of a prurient sexual nature.
  • A business that is not organized for profit.
  • A business that is debarred from doing business with the Federal Government.
  • A business that is using grant activities to do business with a foreign country of concern as defined by Florida Statutes.
  • A business that has an ownership stake by a foreign country of concern as defined by Florida Statutes.

 What Events Can I Attend?

Take a look at our Events Calendar to see all of our upcoming trade shows, missions, and more.

If you are interested in a STEP application, please contact your current international trade manager.

 

 

Grants are awarded on a first come, first serve basis. Continued participation in Florida’s State Trade Expansion Program is not guaranteed and is subject to past performance, program compliance, return on investment (ROI) and a demonstrated export growth plan.

Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Federal Funding Disclosure – SelectFlorida, Inc
State Trade Expansion Program [9/30/2026 – 9/29/2027]
Federal Share: 75% – $900,000.00; Non-Federal Share: 25% – $300,000.00
Total Program Cost: $1,200,000.00