Louisiana State Trade Expansion Program

STEP is an SBA program which provides financial awards to state and territory governments to assist small businesses with export development.  The program’s mission is to increase the number of U.S. small business exporters and increase their export sales. 

For the 2019-2021 grant cycle, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has awarded Louisiana Economic Development with a grant in the amount of $200,000 for the purpose of assisting eligible small businesses increase export related sales. 

The Louisiana program will offer reimbursements of up to 75 percent for new to export companies and up to 50 percent for market expansion companies on allowable travel and registration/exhibit expenses related to domestic or foreign trade shows, reverse or foreign trade missions, participation in export training workshops, U.S. Commercial Service fee services, as well as other allowable and approved activities. The program will offer assistance of up to $6,333 per company. 

 

Eligibility

To be eligible companies must:

• Have been in business for at least one year.
• Be a For-Profit Business.
• Be based in Louisiana.
• Have a plan for exporting (export strategy).
• Understand the costs associated with exporting (costs such as freight forwarders, customs brokers, shipping, etc.).
• Meet the SBA definition of a small business.
• Not be debarred from doing business with the federal government.
• Have export products/services that contain a majority of U.S. content (51 percent or higher).
• The company can either be new to export or seeking market expansion.
• Only travel and activities approved by the LED team will qualify for reimbursement.

 

Companies wishing to participate in the Louisiana STEP grant may email Jessica L. Steverson at Jessica.Steverson@la.gov or call (225) 342-2537.