Sacramento, California - The State of California is currently accepting proposals for the California State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) - a federally funded grant program of the U.S. Small Business Administration to increase exports activities among small businesses.  Funding associated with this program will support trade development and enhancement activities that help small businesses enter or expand their exporting activity to additional markets.

As the program administrator, CDFA is seeking project proposals from qualified entities to conduct export development activities in foreign markets to assist California businesses in trade expansion. Activities may include foreign trade missions and trade show exhibitions. Suitable promoted product categories include, but are not limited to: aircraft /automotive parts; construction; manufacturing equipment/technology; medical devices; pharmaceuticals; health and beauty; food and agricultural products; and green/sustainable technologies. 
 
Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that directly benefit or provide profit to a single organization, institution or individual. Federal funding is dependent on a competitive grant award by the U.S. Small Business Administration to the State of California. Total available federal funding for California activities is estimated at $900,000.
 
Applications must be submitted online at https://citd.org/step-2018-2019-export-promotion-concepts/, no later than April 18, 2018, 5:00 p.m. (PST). Further information on the grant program, including timeline and application criteria, are available at: https://citd.org/step-2018-2019-export-promotion-concepts/ 
 
CDFA will host a webinar to provide an overview of California STEP on Monday, April 9, 2018 at 10:30 am PDT.  Prospective applicants interested in attending can RSVP at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
 
The California State Trade Export Promotion (STEP) Program is a partnership between the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), CDFA, the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and the California Centers for International Trade Development. The program brings together state, federal, private and non-profit trade promotion organizations to promote export activities among targeted industries. California STEP is funded in part by a U.S. Small Business Administration Grant.