FDI & Trade

Program Objective

The Oklahoma STEP Forward Enhancement Fund is part of the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant Program which is an export promotion initiative to make matching-fund grants for states to assist “eligible small business concerns”. The intent of this program is to increase the number of small businesses that are exporting, and to increase the value of exports for those small businesses that are currently exporting. This grant is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, Section 1207.

Services

The Program is designed to meet the specific international trade development needs of Oklahoma small businesses. This includes subscriptions to services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Services and participation in international trade show exhibitions.

Eligibility

To be eligible, an applicant must own a small Oklahoma based business which:

• has been in business for not less than the one year period ending on the date on which assistance is provided using this grant;
• is operating profitably, based on operations in the United States;
• has demonstrated understanding of the costs associated with exporting and doing business with foreign purchasers, including the costs of freight forwarding, customs brokers, packing and shipping;
• has in effect a strategic plan for exporting; and
  complies with the SBA size standards found at 13 C.F.R. Part 121.