Opportunity Information: Apply for OIT STEP 2016 01
Apply for OIT STEP 2016 01
- The SBA in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "State Trade and Export Promotion Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.061.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 03, 2016 and posted on Feb 03, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 17, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $850,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) grant opportunity designed to help states strengthen export assistance for small businesses. The program invites proposals from eligible state entities that can deliver practical support, counseling, and guidance to small business concerns with the goal of expanding international sales. At its core, the program is focused on two outcomes: increasing the number of small firms that begin exporting and increasing the overall dollar value of exports generated by small businesses that participate.
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary award and is funded through a cooperative agreement, which generally implies an active partnership between the awarding agency and the recipient during implementation rather than a hands-off grant. The funding activity area is categorized under Business and Commerce, and the applicable CFDA (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) number for this program is 59.061. The administering federal agency is the SBA, reflecting the program's alignment with SBA's broader mission to support small business growth, competitiveness, and job creation.
Eligibility is limited to state governments, meaning individual companies and most non-state organizations would not apply directly. Instead, a state entity would propose a plan for how it will use STEP funds to build or expand services that help eligible small businesses enter new international markets or grow existing export activity. In practice, this kind of state-led approach often involves organizing or subsidizing export readiness training, one-on-one export counseling, trade mission support, participation in foreign trade shows, market research assistance, and other export development activities that reduce barriers and costs for small firms. The emphasis in the announcement is on the state's demonstrated capacity to provide meaningful assistance and guidance to small business concerns, suggesting proposals would be expected to show a clear implementation strategy, credible partners, and measurable results tied to export outcomes.
For this specific funding cycle, the funding opportunity title is "State Trade and Export Promotion Program" and the opportunity number is OIT STEP 2016 01. The announcement was created and posted on February 3, 2016, with an application closing date of March 17, 2016 (the original and current closing dates are the same). The award ceiling listed is $850,000, and the SBA anticipated making approximately 40 awards. Taken together, those details indicate a competitive national solicitation aimed at multiple states, with award amounts potentially varying up to the stated cap depending on the scope and quality of each proposal and the program's available funding.
Overall, STEP is structured to channel federal resources through state governments to expand export-related services for small businesses, with success measured by participation and real-world export growth. The program is essentially a tool for states to help local small firms compete globally by improving access to export expertise, market opportunities, and the support systems needed to convert international interest into sales.
State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program (OIT STEP 2016 01) - FAQs
What is the STEP Program?
The State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) grant opportunity designed to help states strengthen export assistance for small businesses. It supports practical export-related services such as support, counseling, and guidance intended to expand international sales.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The program is focused on two core outcomes: (1) increasing the number of small firms that begin exporting, and (2) increasing the overall dollar value of exports generated by participating small businesses.
Who administers the STEP Program?
The administering federal agency is the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
What type of award is STEP?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary award and is funded through a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that STEP is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally implies an active partnership between the awarding agency (SBA) and the recipient during implementation, rather than a fully hands-off grant relationship.
What is the funding activity area for this opportunity?
The funding activity area is categorized under Business and Commerce.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The applicable CFDA (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) number is 59.061.
What is the official funding opportunity title?
The title for this funding cycle is "State Trade and Export Promotion Program."
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is OIT STEP 2016 01.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to state governments (eligible state entities). Individual companies and most non-state organizations would not apply directly to SBA for this opportunity.
Can a small business apply directly for STEP funds?
No. Based on the provided information, individual small businesses do not apply directly. Instead, a state entity applies and proposes how it will use STEP funds to deliver export assistance services that help eligible small businesses export or expand exporting.
What does a state applicant typically propose to do with STEP funds?
A state entity would propose a plan to build or expand export services that help small businesses enter new international markets or grow existing export activity. The emphasis is on delivering meaningful assistance and guidance to small business concerns.
What kinds of activities can STEP support (examples mentioned)?
Examples described include export readiness training, one-on-one export counseling, trade mission support, participation in foreign trade shows, market research assistance, and other export development activities that reduce barriers and costs for small firms.
What is SBA looking for in a state's proposal?
The announcement emphasizes the state's demonstrated capacity to provide practical assistance and guidance to small business concerns. Proposals would be expected to present a clear implementation strategy, credible partners, and measurable results tied to export outcomes.
How is success measured under STEP?
Success is framed around participation and real-world export growth, specifically: more small firms beginning to export and higher total export dollar value generated by participating small businesses.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $850,000.
How many awards does SBA expect to make?
SBA anticipated making approximately 40 awards.
Does every recipient receive the same award amount?
Not necessarily. The details indicate awards could vary up to the stated cap, depending on the scope and quality of proposals and the program's available funding.
When was this funding opportunity posted?
The announcement was created and posted on February 3, 2016.
What is the application deadline?
The application closing date is March 17, 2016. The original and current closing dates are the same based on the information provided.
What is the overall structure of STEP in practice?
STEP channels federal resources through state governments so states can expand export-related services for small businesses. It is intended to help local small firms compete globally by improving access to export expertise, market opportunities, and support systems needed to turn international interest into sales.
Is this a national competitive opportunity?
Yes. The information describes a competitive national solicitation aimed at multiple states, with approximately 40 awards anticipated.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Business and Commerce
Next opportunity: Deployed Warfighter Protection Program
Previous opportunity: Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Case Registry: Building Capacity (Module A) and Implementation (Module B)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for OIT STEP 2016 01
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (OIT STEP 2016 01) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Veterans Business Outreach Center Program (VBOC) Apply for VBOC 2016 02 Funding Number: VBOC 2016 02 Agency: SBA Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| FEDERAL AND STATE TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM Apply for FAST 2016 R 0010 Funding Number: FAST 2016 R 0010 Agency: SBA Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| Portable Assistance Program Apply for OSBDC 2016 05 Funding Number: OSBDC 2016 05 Agency: SBA Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME) Apply for PRIME 2016 02 Funding Number: PRIME 2016 02 Agency: SBA Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Value Added Producer Grant Apply for RDBCP VAPG 2016 Funding Number: RDBCP VAPG 2016 Agency: USDA-rbcs Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Facilitating SME compliance and input into regulations Apply for RFA 165 16 000006 Funding Number: RFA 165 16 000006 Agency: USAID-MAC Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Women’s Business Center Program Renewal Grant Apply for OWBO 2016 02 Funding Number: OWBO 2016 02 Agency: SBA Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Procurement Technical Assistance Program Apply for DLA 201605 Funding Number: DLA 201605 Agency: DOD-DLA Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Service-Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program Apply for SDVETP 2016 01 Funding Number: SDVETP 2016 01 Agency: SBA Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Women's Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program (WVETP) Apply for WVETP 2017 01 Funding Number: WVETP 2017 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Boost 2 Business Statement of Interest Apply for B2BSOI 2017 Funding Number: B2BSOI 2017 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Boots to Business (B2B) Apply for B2B 2017 01 Funding Number: B2B 2017 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Portable Assistance Program Apply for OSBDC 2017 03 Funding Number: OSBDC 2017 03 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Entrepreneurship in the MENA region Apply for NEAAC ACBURGR 17 008 Funding Number: NEAAC ACBURGR 17 008 Agency: Department of State, Assistance Coordination Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Office of Native American Affairs for Native American Micro Enterprise Business Services Apply for ONAA 7J 2017 01 Funding Number: ONAA 7J 2017 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Veteran Federal Procurement Entrepreneurship Training Program (VFPETP) Apply for VFPETP 2017 01 Funding Number: VFPETP 2017 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Apply for OIT STEP 2017 01 Funding Number: OIT STEP 2017 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Procurement Technical Assistance Program - North Dakota Apply for DLA 201703 Funding Number: DLA 201703 Agency: Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Procurement Technical Assistance Program - Alaska BIA Region Apply for DLA 201702 Funding Number: DLA 201702 Agency: Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program SBTDC Apply for FAST 2017 R 0011A Funding Number: FAST 2017 R 0011A Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $200,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "OIT STEP 2016 01", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.