Nebraska State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), funded by the US Small Business Administration
Reimbursement, 25% match
Reimbursement for Nebraska small businesses' export costs, with a 25% match. The Year 13 application cycle is open; the page does not state a cap.
Nebraska STEP reimburses eligible small Nebraska businesses for export costs such as trade shows, US Department of Commerce export services, foreign sales trips and export training. Applicants must be US owned and headquartered in Nebraska, make a product with at least 51% US content, meet SBA small business size rules and have been in business at least a year. Year 13 requires the business to put in matching funds equal to 25% of eligible costs, and the application cycle is open.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount
- Reimbursement, 25% match
- Realistic amount
- Not stated for Year 13. The Year 11 guidelines capped reimbursement at $19,999 per year, with up to $4,000 for a US trade show and up to $10,000 for a foreign one.
- Deadline
- Open cycle. The page lists "Open Cycle" and gives no closing date.
- Status
- active
- States
- NE
Who qualifies
- US owned and operated, and headquartered in Nebraska, at the time of application
- Process, manufacture or distribute a product, or provide an exportable service
- Produce an exportable product with at least 51% US content
- Meet the SBA "Eligible Small Business Concern" size guidelines
- In business at least one year, US owned and operating in the United States
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Domestic or international trade show participation
- US Department of Commerce subscription services
- Foreign market sales trips
- Export training and educational activities
Ineligible expenses
- Expenses outside the approved Year 13 guidelines
- Activities sponsored or co-sponsored with DED when costs fall outside the approved guidelines
How to apply
-
1
Apply online in AmpliFund
Fill out the STEP Year 13 application in the DED AmpliFund portal.
~2 hrs
-
2
Email an itemized budget request
Send the itemized budget request (IBR) listing the planned activity and costs.
~2 hrs
-
3
Wait for approval, then do the activity
Attend the approved event or complete the approved activity.
-
4
Send receipts and proof of payment
Email expense receipts and proof of payment after the activity.
~1.5 hrs
-
5
Submit the IBR evaluation and request the refund
Submit the IBR evaluation and ACH details in AmpliFund and request reimbursement.
~1.5 hrs
Money comes back only after the activity is finished and documented, so plan to cover the full cost up front. The 25% match is on top of that. Email the itemized budget request and wait for approval before booking anything.
Deadline & timing
The Nebraska DED page lists the application deadline as "Open Cycle" and the AmpliFund listing shows no submission open or close dates. Earlier years funded first-come, first-served until money ran out, so apply early.
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Required documents
- Online application in AmpliFund
- Itemized budget request (IBR) by email
- Expense receipts and proof of payment after the activity
- IBR evaluation and ACH information
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Last updated November 8, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.