Source: NCDA&CS, 7/1/20

Step Program Year 8

The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina is proud to announce another round of funding has been awarded for the North Carolina State Trade Expansion Program (STEP).  The EDPNC, in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration, provides reimbursement funding to qualifying small businesses to offset certain costs associated with exporting.

We still have funding left for the current program-period and we welcome new applications.  Please email Jen Vogelsberg to receive an application at jen.vogelsberg@edpnc.com

How to apply:  Please complete sections 1-3 with your basic company information on this application.  Funding requests can be made in section 4, and each funding request requires estimates to be attached when you apply.  You can apply for all 3 categories of funding now, or you can apply for some categories now and others later.  All three funding categories (Booth, Travel, and Export Services) can be dipped into multiple times, as long as program-funding allows, up to their respective monetary cap which is detailed below.  In section 5, indicate whether you’d like to participate in our Southeast Asia Export Initiative, and/or our Export Education seminars.   All forms and attachments should be sent directly to me via email whenever possible. 

Be sure to sign and date all 3 signature pages.  

Please submit all materials at least 30 days in advance of your activity.
 

• Travel Estimates: If you have already booked your flight and hotel, then forward your confirmations showing dates, cities, costs, and flight class.  If you have not yet booked, send a screenshot of each that you are considering, keeping in mind you must adhere to the Fly America Act (round-trip, economy-class with US carrier).  Temporary sublets such as Airbnb and VRBO qualify for reimbursement.
• Booth Estimates:  If you have a booth contract already then please forward that.  If not, please send information provided on the show’s website or else an email from the show’s organizers indicating the expected cost.
• Translations, Website Localization, and SEO Estimates:  Send an estimate you have received from a US-based service provider for your project, before having the project executed.  A list of reputable NC translators and international online marketing service providers is available upon request.

Eligible companies must: be organized or incorporated in the US; operate in the state of North Carolina; meet the SBA’s size standards for a Small Business Concern (typically 500 employees or less); have been in business for no less than 1 year; be in good standing with the federal government (have not been debarred); be an export-ready US company seeking to export goods or services of US origin or have at least 51% US content; and have access to sufficient resources to bear the costs associated with trade.
 
Ineligible companies:  do not meet SBA size standards for an SBC; are based in a foreign country; are not organized for profit; are engaged in any activity that is illegal under Federal or state law; derive more than 1/3 of their gross annual revenue from legal gambling activities; or are consulting, distribution, or logistics companies who are acting as intermediaries and are not directly exporting their own goods or services to foreign entities.
 
Keep in mind:  Qualifying activities must take place during the STEP Program year, which runs September 30, 2019 – September 29, 2021.  All activities must be approved by the STEP program before they are executed or paid for (payment exceptions are italicized in the bullets below).  
 
The STEP Year 8 Program offers up to $14,000 in export assistance funds:

1.    Booth reimbursement up to $5,000 toward international trade show booth costs (booth cannot be shared; company’s name must be listed in the exhibitor directory; domestic shows must have an international presence; virtual trade shows qualify; companies are allowed to pay their booth costs up to 12 months in advance of the event).

2.    Travel reimbursement up to $3,000  toward flight and lodging costs associated with trade show exhibition (covers 1 or 2 company employees combined; company must be a registered exhibitor and listed in the show’s directory; domestic shows only qualify if there is an international presence at the show; travel reimbursement is limited to airfare adherent to the Fly America Act  and lodging up to the per diem rate for the city/month of travel; companies who join an EDPNC booth may also receive travel funding; companies are allowed to pay airfare up to 6 months prior to the event; lodging cannot be paid before the start of STEP program-year, i.e. 9/30/19).

3.    Export Services reimbursement up to $6,000 toward various services that help companies enter foreign markets including the translation of websites and/or marketing materials, website search engine optimization and localization for foreign markets, and most services offered through the US Commercial Service office such as Initial Market Checks, International Company Profiles, Gold Key Service and International Partner Searches

Additional STEP Services Include:

Participation in our Southeast Asia Export Initiative to benefit from market research, distributor searches, trade show assistance, and other business development activities in this region of potential growth for NC exporters.