State Trade Expansion Program 2026

The Small Business Administration is soliciting applications for the State Trade Expansion Program (CFDA 59.061) to provide grants supporting state-level small business export development, with applications due August 18, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time via Grants.gov.

Eligible applicants are state agencies officially designated by the governor as the sole entity responsible for conducting the state's trade and export activities. Eligible applicant types include state governments, public and private higher education institutions, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits, provided they hold gubernatorial designation. Applicants must submit written designation letters from the governor or equivalent authority and demonstrate an official agency relationship with state government.

The SBA will award up to $20 million total across an anticipated maximum of 56 awards, with individual award amounts ranging from $100,000 to $900,000. The ten states with the highest numbers of small business exporters (California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas) are limited to no more than 40 percent of total appropriations. The period of performance is 12 months, beginning September 30, 2026 and ending September 29, 2027.

Matching requirements vary by state export volume: California, Texas, and New York must provide 35 percent non-federal match (54 percent of total project costs), while all other eligible jurisdictions must provide 25 percent non-federal match (33 percent of total project costs). Matching funds must comprise at least 50 percent cash, with the remainder in in-kind contributions. Non-federal entities cannot use program income to satisfy the matching requirement.

Grant recipients must dedicate at least 85 percent of federal funds to directly benefit eligible small business concerns through eight allowable statutory activities: foreign and reverse trade missions, trade show participation, export training, website translation and localization, international marketing media design, commerce subscription services, and related export development activities.

Applications are evaluated on a two-tier scoring basis: Tier I (20 points) assesses technical proposal quality, exporting experience, performance measures, collaboration, and financial assistance plans; Tier II (80 points) evaluates past performance based on utilization rates, return on investment, activities provided to eligible small business concerns, and assistance to rural, veteran-owned, and manufacturing enterprises. Applicants must score a minimum of 70 points to be funded.