Florida STEP — State Trade Expansion Program
Florida SBDC Network (in partnership with SelectFlorida)
Up to $15,000
FL export grant + advising
Florida's implementation of the SBA-funded State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), delivered by the Florida SBDC Network in partnership with SelectFlorida (formerly Enterprise Florida). STEP reimburses Florida small businesses for the cost of export-promotion activities — international trade shows and related travel, sample shipments, export credit insurance, translation and website localization, market research, company profile reports, and Export Marketing Plans. Reimbursement is capped at $15,000 per two-year funding period, with sub-caps per activity type. The program is paired with Florida SBDC export consulting, so applicants build a vetted export plan before claiming funds.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- Up to $15,000
- Realistic amount
- Most STEP clients claim a trade show plus a couple of support activities (translation, local…
- Deadline
- Rolling intake via the Florida SBDC electronic request for consultation (eRFC); trade-show grant requests must be submitted at least 15 days before the event, and all reimbursement documents are due by August 30 each year. Active as long as SBA renews Florida's STEP award.
- Status
- active
- States
- Florida
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Business organized/incorporated and operating in the United States with an active Florida Division of Corporations registration tied to a Florida address
- Meets the SBA small business size standard (13 CFR Part 121)
- In business at least 1 year (Export Marketing Plan services require at least 2 years)
- Product or service is manufactured, produced, processed, or value-added in Florida (or an approved-sector service provider / manufacturer's representative)
- New-to-export or market-expansion status
- SelectFlorida trade-show grants additionally require 3–500 full-time employees and at least $250,000 in prior-year revenue
Hard requirements
- Must be an incorporated business
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- International trade show / trade mission fees and related travel (airfare, lodging, transportation)
- Product sample shipments
- Export credit insurance fees
- Translation services
- Website localization for foreign markets
- Market research / company profile reports
- Export Marketing Plans
Ineligible expenses
- Domestic (non-export) marketing or travel
- Activities not pre-approved
- Costs incurred before approval or outside the funding period
- Expenses exceeding the per-activity sub-caps or the $15,000 ceiling
How to apply
-
1
Request a Florida SBDC export consultation (eRFC)
Submit an electronic request for consultation on the Florida SBDC site to be paired with an export advisor and assessed for STEP eligibility and the right activity mix.
~2 hrs
-
2
Build the export plan and select activities
With the advisor, choose STEP-eligible activities (trade show, translation, website localization, market research, Export Marketing Plan) within the per-activity sub-caps and the $15,000 two-year ceiling.
~4 hrs
-
3
Get pre-approval (and apply to SelectFlorida for trade-show grants)
Secure pre-approval before incurring costs. For a SelectFlorida target-sector trade-show grant, submit the online grant application at least 15 days before the event and get it approved before day one of the show.
~3 hrs
-
4
Complete activities and submit reimbursement documents
Carry out the approved activities, then submit receipts and proof of payment. All reimbursement documents are due by August 30 each year.
~3 hrs
Route everything through your Florida SBDC export advisor first — STEP eligibility, activity sub-caps, and the August 30 reimbursement-document deadline trip up self-servers. For a trade show, also stack the separate SelectFlorida target-sector trade-show grant (up to 90% of exhibition costs) on top of STEP support.
Deadline & timing
Florida SBDC accepts STEP consultation requests on a rolling basis within each SBA funding period. SelectFlorida trade-show grants are first-come, first-served and must be approved before the first day of the show; reimbursement documents are due by August 30 annually.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.