State Trade Expansion
Active
- Assistance listing
- 59.061
- Grant awards
- 556 $228,446,776 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- STEP
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Formula Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 73-0400-0-1-376
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Small Business Administration's State Trade Expansion Program (CFDA 59.061) funds state governments and their designated entities to develop export capacity among small businesses, with the most recent grant awards disbursed on September 30, 2024.
The program supports concrete export development activities: trade promotion events, export training and counseling, market research and feasibility studies, and other services designed to increase the number of small business exporters and the dollar value of their exports. Recent awards to state economic development agencies and universities range from $100 thousand to $900 thousand, typically supporting two-year performance periods. The Georgia Department of Economic Development received $310 thousand; Indiana Economic Development Corporation received $550 thousand; Virginia Economic Development Partnership received $900 thousand; and California received $900 thousand—all for FY 2024 awards. A Formula Grant to North Carolina also totaled $900 thousand.
The program has disbursed 556 awards totaling $228.4 million in federal dollars obligated since 2011, with recipients contributing an additional $1.06 billion in non-federal matching funds, bringing combined obligated dollars to $1.29 billion. Award volume has remained steady, with 44–51 awards per year over the past five years. Funding concentrates within the SBA: the Office of International Trade leads with 301 awards ($120.7 million), followed by the SBA's general account with 129 awards ($63.5 million), and the Office of Performance Management and the Chief Financial Officer with 117 awards ($41.8 million). The portfolio is predominantly Project Grants (82 percent, 454 awards), with smaller shares of Cooperative Agreements (17 percent, 96 awards) and Formula Grants (1 percent, 5 awards).
Two opportunities are currently open. SB-OIT-STEP-2026-01, due August 18, 2026, accepts applications from state governments, higher education institutions (public and private), and 501(c)(3) nonprofits. SB-OITST-26-001, due August 10, 2026, has similar eligibility but adds "Other" applicant types and emphasizes that federal funds must supplement, not substitute, non-federal entity funds for export activities. Applicants apply competitively each federal fiscal year, and awards require state or equivalent matching funds. Eligible applicants are limited to states (including U.S. territories and insular areas) and entities officially designated by the state governor as the lead for trade and export activities.
Objective and description
- Objective
Grants made to state governments to increase the number of small businesses that are exporting and increase the value of exports for those small businesses that export.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
States, defined as the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
- Credentials and documentation
Documentation must include designation by the State Governor or his/her designee that the applicant is the sole entity responsible for conducting the state's export activities.
- Uses of assistance
Funds are restricted to export promotion activities that assist eligible small business concerns.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Grants are limited to 2 years.
How to apply
- Application procedure
The proposal must be submitted via grants.gov.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Awards are competitive. Selection is made based on the eligible applicant's written ability to meet the criteria stated in the program announcement in a merit-based, competitive award process with other eligible applicants; and the applicants ability to match funds.
- Award procedure
SBA Headquarters executes grants to approved state applicants. Refer to STEP Program Announcement.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Prior to the end of the Federal fiscal year (i.e., September 30th).
- Renewals
Eligible applicants may apply each year of the program.
- Appeals
Discretionary awards; no appeal opportunity.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Trade Expansion Program 2026 | Closed | ||
| State Trade Expansion Program 2026-001 | Closed | ||
| State trade expansion program (step) | Closed | ||
| OIT-step-2024-01 | Closed | ||
| FY 2023 STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM (STEP) for South Dakota | Closed | ||
| State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) | Closed | ||
| State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) | Closed | ||
| FY 2022 state trade expansion program (step) | Closed | ||
| State Trade Expansion Program | Closed | ||
| State trade expansion program | Closed | ||
| Step | Closed | ||
| State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) | Closed | ||
| State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) | Closed | ||
| State Trade and Export Promotion Program | Closed |
Show all 14
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 556 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan Strategic Fund | $14,377,348 | 6% |
| 2 | Washington State Department Of Commerce | $13,410,261 | 6% |
| 3 | New Jersey Department Of State | $8,332,624 | 4% |
| 4 | Ohio Department Of Development | $8,211,485 | 4% |
| 5 | Department Of Community & Economic Development Pennsylvania | $8,144,060 | 4% |
| 6 | Economic Development Partnership Of North Carolina, Inc. | $7,929,105 | 3% |
| 7 | Illinois Department Commerce & Economic Opportunity | $7,695,223 | 3% |
| 8 | State Of Hawaii Depart Of Business & Economic Development & Tourism | $7,244,238 | 3% |
| 9 | New York Department Of Economic Development | $7,009,396 | 3% |
| 10 | Department Of Commerce Montana | $6,628,360 | 3% |
10 of 72 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$15,756 |
| FY2025 | -$177,064 |
| FY2024 | $17,788,579 |
| FY2023 | $18,510,635 |
| FY2022 | $21,095,519 |
| FY2021 | $13,216,557 |
| FY2020 | $18,926,294 |
| FY2019 | $17,443,099 |
| FY2018 | $14,327,242 |
| FY2017 | $14,391,693 |
| FY2016 | $14,170,427 |
| FY2015 | $13,764,836 |
| FY2014 | $8,000,000 |
| FY2012 | $28,070,549 |
| FY2011 | $28,934,166 |
Show all 15
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 59.061?
Assistance Listing 59.061 is State Trade Expansion, a federal grant program run by Small Business Administration.
What is the CFDA number for State Trade Expansion?
Its CFDA number is 59.061: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 59.061 awarded?
556 grant awards under 59.061 have obligated $228,446,776 in federal funds to 72 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 59.061?
The recipients obligated the most under State Trade Expansion are Michigan Strategic Fund ($14,377,348), Washington State Department Of Commerce ($13,410,261) and New Jersey Department Of State ($8,332,624).
How much did 59.061 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 59.061 obligated -$177,064 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 59.061?
No opportunity listed under 59.061 is open now. The latest, State Trade Expansion Program 2026, was posted on July 10, 2026.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
- Every grant award and opportunity under it
- Funding by recipient, agency and assistance type
- Alerts for new opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this program