Oklahoma STEP Fund — State Trade Expansion Program
Oklahoma Department of Commerce
Up to $24,000/year
Up to $24K for Oklahoma export activities
The Oklahoma STEP Fund reimburses small businesses for approved international export development activities — trade shows, trade missions, e-commerce website translation, and export compliance training. Funded by a federal SBA grant and administered by Oklahoma Commerce, companies can receive up to $24,000 per fiscal year (STEP 12 grant, covering Oct 2024–Sept 2026). Important: FY2026 federal funding has lapsed due to Congressional appropriations issues. Oklahoma Commerce is monitoring for restoration. Best suited for Oklahoma SMBs actively selling or preparing to sell in international markets.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $24,000
- Realistic amount
- Companies participating in a single international trade show typically receive $5,000–$12,000 in reimbursement (booth, b…
- Deadline
- Applications accepted when funding is available. As of May 2026, FY2026 federal STEP funding is lapsed — check okcommerce.gov for restoration updates. STEP 12 grant period: Oct 1, 2024 – Sept 29, 2026.
- Status
- paused
- States
- OK
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- For-profit business physically located in Oklahoma
- In operation for at least 1 year
- Meets SBA small business size standards (13 C.F.R. Part 121)
- Products or services must contain at least 51% U.S. content
- Must be 'export ready' — company or product/service with export potential
- Must be incorporated or organized in the United States
- Must be in good standing with Oklahoma Secretary of State and Tax Commission
- Must obtain pre-approval from Oklahoma Commerce BEFORE incurring any eligible expenses
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Location restriction: Oklahoma — business must be physically based in Oklahoma
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- International or domestic trade show participation (minimum 20% international attendees) — booth cost, exhibit build-out, registration for up to 2 company representatives
- Oklahoma Commerce-led trade missions — airfare, ground transportation, and lodging
- Export compliance webinars and training courses
- E-commerce website translation and localization services for up to 2 foreign languages/countries
- Export documentation assistance (pre-approved)
Ineligible expenses
- Activities not pre-approved by Oklahoma Commerce
- Domestic trade shows without at least 20% international attendance
- Travel expenses for non-Commerce-led missions
- Expenses incurred before receiving pre-approval
- Marketing or advertising costs not directly tied to export development
- Products/services with less than 51% U.S. content
How to apply
-
1
Verify funding availability at okcommerce.gov
Check the Oklahoma STEP Fund page (okcommerce.gov) to confirm federal funding has been restored for the current period. FY2026 funding was lapsed as of May 2026.
-
2
Register as vendor at vendors.ok.gov
Register your business through the Oklahoma Supplier Portal (vendors.ok.gov) — required for all state payments including STEP reimbursements. Complete this step before applying so you're ready when funding reopens.
-
3
Complete the STEP application and obtain pre-approval
Apply online with Oklahoma Commerce, specifying the export activity you plan to undertake (trade show, mission, e-commerce translation, or export training). Pre-approval MUST be obtained before spending any money on the activity.
-
4
Conduct the approved export activity
Participate in the approved trade show, trade mission, or export training event. Keep all receipts and documentation. Submit quarterly reports to Oklahoma Commerce documenting leads, negotiations, and sales.
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5
Submit reimbursement request
After the activity, submit expense documentation to Oklahoma Commerce for reimbursement. Approved expenses are reimbursed via the state vendor payment system.
Pre-approval is mandatory — never spend first. Register at vendors.ok.gov now so you can move fast when FY2026 funding is restored. The $24K annual cap resets each federal fiscal year (Oct 1).
Deadline & timing
Federal STEP funding lapsed for FY2026 due to Congressional appropriations gap. Oklahoma Commerce is monitoring the situation. When funding is restored, activity deadlines vary by category — pre-approval must be obtained before incurring any export expenses. Companies should register as vendors at vendors.ok.gov in advance so they can apply immediately when funding reopens.
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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.