Opportunity Information: Apply for OIT STEP 2011 01
Apply for OIT STEP 2011 01
- The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of International Trade Small Business Jobs Act of 2010" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 29, 2011 and posted on Mar 1, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 10, 2011 The closing date is May 10, 2011 at 1159 PM EST.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $30,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 55 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants for this grant are each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
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Opportunity Summary:
Program Announcement No. OIT STEP 2011 01 is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of International Trade funding opportunity created under Section 1207 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. It launched a three-year pilot initiative called the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant Program. The core purpose of the program is straightforward: help more U.S. small businesses begin exporting and help existing small-business exporters grow their export sales, increasing the overall value of exports coming from the small business sector. SBA positions this as an export expansion and competitiveness effort delivered through state-level programs, with SBA providing overall management and oversight to ensure the assistance reaches small firms effectively.
This opportunity is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement rather than a simple formula grant. That matters because it signals ongoing collaboration and federal involvement in how the program is carried out, along with expectations for performance and reporting. The program anticipated up to 55 awards, reflecting the intent to cover states and eligible U.S. territories broadly. Total estimated funding for the competition was $30,000,000, with an award ceiling of $3,000,000 and no stated minimum award amount (award floor of $0). A cost-sharing or matching requirement applied, meaning recipients were expected to contribute non-federal resources alongside STEP funds to support the activities proposed.
Eligible applicants were governmental entities at the state and territorial level, specifically: each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. In other words, individual small businesses do not apply directly to SBA under this announcement. Instead, states and territories apply, receive funding, and then use those funds to run or expand export assistance programs that directly benefit eligible small business concerns within their jurisdictions.
The announcement lays out the types of export-support activities states must fund, focusing on practical, market-facing assistance that can move a business from interest to action in international markets. Allowable uses include supporting small business participation in foreign trade missions and foreign market sales trips, paying for subscriptions to certain U.S. Department of Commerce services, covering website translation costs to make businesses more accessible to overseas customers, and supporting the design of international marketing products or campaigns. Funds can also support export trade show exhibits and participation in training workshops. The announcement also leaves room for other export initiatives as long as they are deemed appropriate by SBA's Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade and, importantly, do not duplicate services already offered by other SBA resource partners. That non-duplication requirement is a key guardrail meant to keep STEP complementary to existing SBA counseling and assistance networks rather than overlapping them.
The competition also highlights a policy priority around inclusive access to exporting opportunities. While not an absolute requirement, SBA notes that priority may be given to states that build export promotion programs with a focus on groups that have historically faced barriers to growth and global market entry. These include socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned and service-connected small business owners, disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and rural small businesses. In practice, this signals that applicants that can demonstrate targeted outreach, tailored services, or measurable outcomes for these populations may be viewed more favorably during selection.
Key dates in the posting show the timeline and an extension. The opening date was March 1, 2011. The original closing date was April 26, 2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, and it was later extended to May 10, 2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The opportunity was archived on May 11, 2011. SBA provided a central information link (http://www.sba.gov/step) and directed program questions and access issues to the Office of International Trade via STEP@sba.gov, which served as the primary contact channel for applicants.
In short, this grant opportunity funded state-led export promotion efforts under the STEP pilot, with the explicit goal of expanding the number of small business exporters and boosting export revenue. It funded tangible export readiness and market entry activities (trade missions, sales trips, translation, marketing, trade shows, and training), required matching resources, emphasized coordination to avoid duplicating existing SBA partner services, and encouraged states to prioritize underserved and underrepresented small business groups as part of their export growth strategies.
FAQs: SBA State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant Program (Program Announcement No. OIT STEP 2011 01)
1) What is Program Announcement No. OIT STEP 2011 01?
It is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of International Trade funding opportunity created under Section 1207 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. It launched a three-year pilot initiative known as the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant Program.
2) What is the main purpose of the STEP Grant Program?
The program is designed to help more U.S. small businesses begin exporting and help existing small-business exporters increase their export sales. The broader goal is to increase the overall value of exports coming from the U.S. small business sector by supporting export expansion and competitiveness through state-level programs.
3) Who manages and oversees the program?
SBA provides overall management and oversight to help ensure assistance is delivered effectively to small firms through state and territorial programs.
4) Is this a formula grant or a competitive award?
This opportunity is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement rather than a formula grant. That structure indicates ongoing collaboration and federal involvement in how the program is implemented, along with performance and reporting expectations.
5) How many awards were anticipated?
The announcement anticipated up to 55 awards, reflecting an intent to broadly cover states and eligible U.S. territories.
6) How much total funding was estimated for this competition?
The total estimated funding was $30,000,000.
7) What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $3,000,000.
8) Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No minimum award amount was stated. The announcement listed an award floor of $0.
9) Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applied, meaning recipients were expected to contribute non-federal resources alongside STEP funds to support proposed activities.
10) Who was eligible to apply for this funding?
Eligible applicants were governmental entities at the state and territorial level: each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
11) Can individual small businesses apply directly to SBA under this announcement?
No. Individual small businesses do not apply directly to SBA under this announcement. States and territories apply to SBA, receive funding, and then use those funds to run or expand export assistance programs that benefit eligible small business concerns within their jurisdictions.
12) How do small businesses benefit if they cannot apply directly?
Small businesses benefit indirectly through state-led export promotion and assistance programs funded by STEP. The state or territory uses the funds to provide export-support activities for eligible small businesses in its jurisdiction.
13) What types of activities were states expected to fund with STEP support?
The announcement emphasizes practical, market-facing export assistance. Allowable uses included support for foreign trade missions and foreign market sales trips, subscriptions to certain U.S. Department of Commerce services, website translation costs, and the design of international marketing products or campaigns. STEP funds could also support export trade show exhibits, participation in trade shows, and training workshops.
14) Are trade missions and foreign market sales trips allowable expenses?
Yes. The announcement specifically lists supporting small business participation in foreign trade missions and foreign market sales trips as allowable uses.
15) Can STEP funds be used for U.S. Department of Commerce service subscriptions?
Yes. The announcement allows paying for subscriptions to certain U.S. Department of Commerce services.
16) Can STEP funds be used for website translation for international customers?
Yes. The announcement includes covering website translation costs to make businesses more accessible to overseas customers.
17) Can STEP funds support international marketing materials or campaigns?
Yes. The announcement allows supporting the design of international marketing products or campaigns.
18) Can STEP funds be used for trade shows?
Yes. The announcement includes support for export trade show exhibits and participation in trade shows.
19) Are training workshops an allowable use of funds?
Yes. Participation in training workshops is listed among the allowable export-support activities.
20) Can states propose other export initiatives not explicitly listed?
Yes, with conditions. The announcement leaves room for other export initiatives as long as they are deemed appropriate by SBA's Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade and do not duplicate services already offered by other SBA resource partners.
21) What does the non-duplication requirement mean?
It means STEP-funded activities should not overlap with services already provided by other SBA resource partners. This guardrail is intended to keep STEP complementary to existing SBA counseling and assistance networks rather than duplicative.
22) Did SBA indicate any priority populations or policy focus areas?
Yes. While not described as an absolute requirement, SBA noted that priority may be given to states that focus export promotion programs on groups that have historically faced barriers to growth and global market entry.
23) Which groups were specifically highlighted for potential priority consideration?
The announcement highlighted socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned and service-connected small business owners, disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and rural small businesses.
24) What were the key dates for the opportunity?
The opening date was March 1, 2011. The original closing date was April 26, 2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, and it was extended to May 10, 2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The opportunity was archived on May 11, 2011.
25) Was the closing date extended?
Yes. The original closing date of April 26, 2011 (11:59 PM ET) was extended to May 10, 2011 (11:59 PM ET).
26) Where was SBA directing applicants for more information?
SBA provided a central information link at http://www.sba.gov/step.
27) Who was the listed contact for program questions or access issues?
The announcement directed program questions and access issues to SBA's Office of International Trade via STEP@sba.gov.
28) What is the basic program model for delivering assistance?
The model is state-led: SBA awards funds to eligible state and territorial governmental entities, and those recipients operate or expand export assistance programs that deliver practical support directly to small businesses.
29) What overall outcomes was SBA aiming to achieve with this pilot?
The stated outcomes were to expand the number of small business exporters and boost export revenue (the overall value of exports) attributable to the small business sector.
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