Export Training Grant Program

The State of California, through the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), is offering a one-time competitive grant opportunity called the Export Training Grant Program. The program aims to fund service providers to develop or scale export training programs and curricula for California small business owners, with a focus on underserved businesses, immigrant integration, and training in languages other than English. Key objectives include supporting small businesses, providing access to export services, advancing immigrant integration, and developing an export-capable workforce. Eligible applicants include consultants, for-profit entities, nonprofit organizations, local government entities, economic development agencies, and educational institutions with demonstrated success reaching the target populations. The grant performance period is from September 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, with a minimum grant amount of $20,000 and a maximum of $200,000. Proposals are due by August 16, 2024, at 8:00 AM PST and must be submitted via email to GO-Biz. Evaluation criteria include key personnel capabilities, export training experience, work plan, outreach efforts, and project budget.

The program encourages collaboration between organizations to utilize each other's resources effectively. There are no set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond, though the program aims to support underserved businesses and immigrant entrepreneurs. Incumbent vendors or current contractors are not specified, and the program does not require integration with any existing infrastructure or technology. The total available funding for the program is not provided, but the maximum grant award is $200,000.