The application period for the State Trade and Export Promotion Grant, also known as the STEP Grant, is open through Oct. 31. The program is managed by World Trade Center Utah and funded in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The STEP Grant provides up to $15,000 to eligible local companies to help them grow internationally. A 25 percent cash match from the company is required. Approved grant activities include attending a trade mission or trade show, obtaining translation services, designing international marketing campaigns, utilizing services provided through the U.S. Commercial Service, and other qualifying international business promotion activities.
Interested companies must apply at wtcutah.com/step between Oct. 9 and Oct. 31 for any activities they will need funding for in federal fiscal year 2018, which ends Sept. 30, 2018. In the past, companies have been able to apply for the STEP Grant on a rolling basis. Under the new contract, all requests for the coming year must be submitted in October.
World Trade Center Utah, in collaboration with the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, is planning three trade missions and four trade shows during the grant year. STEP Grant money can be used to participate in one of these trips or an independent, approved trade mission or trade show.
2018 trade missions include the following:
—Mexico in April.
—United Kingdom in July in connection with the Farnborough International Airshow.
—Taiwan in September.
2018 trade shows include the following:
—Arab Health in Dubai, Jan. 9–Feb. 1.
—JEC Composites in Paris, March 6–8.
—Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom, July 16–22.
—OutDoor Friedrichshafen in Germany, June 17–20.
Additional information about the STEP Grant, including eligibility requirements, approved activities and how to apply, can be viewed at wtcutah.com/step.
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