Helping You Discover Opportunity
West Virginia is proud to offer grant assistance to small businesses looking to enter or expand in the global marketplace through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). Over the course of the last decade, STEP has awarded 350 state grants to all 50 states and U.S. Territories generating nearly $1.8 billion in exports.
Since 2015, The West Virginia Department of Economic Development has been awarded nearly 1.4 million dollars in STEP funding which has been distributed to over 80 West Virginia Small Businesses to offset the cost of export promotion activities such as participation in foreign trade missions and trade shows, market sales trips, subscriptions to services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, translation of materials into foreign languages, design of international marketing materials and online marketing targeting more than 65 different countries around the world resulting in over $43 million dollars in new export sales reported to date.
Any small business in West Virginia, regardless of their level of export development experience is invited to learn about the West Virginia STEP program.
The West Virginia STEP consists of $325,000 in funding available from October 1, 2024 to September 29, 2026.
During the West Virginia STEP funding period applicants may receive up to $15,000. Reimbursements are limited to 75% of the amount spent in compliance with STEP reimbursement limits for certain qualifying activities. Applications must be approved prior to commencement of the proposed export activity and expenses must be incurred during the funding period to be eligible for reimbursement.
Want to learn more?
Find detailed information on eligible business requirements and all eligible expenses that may be reimbursed under the West Virginia STEP.