Texas STEP — State Trade Expansion Program
Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
Up to $10,000
Researched for this program: 4 rejection traps · 4 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
TX export expansion grant
Texas's implementation of the SBA-funded State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Office of the Governor's Economic Development & Tourism Division and the U.S. Department of Commerce. STEP provides reimbursement grants that help Texas small businesses cover the cost of entering and expanding into international markets — export training and consulting, foreign trade missions and trade shows, and other eligible export-promotion activities. Awards are capped at $10,000 per grant recipient and are made on a first-come, first-served basis until TDA's annual SBA STEP allocation is exhausted.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- Up to $10,000
- Realistic amount
- Most recipients claim one or two qualifying activities (a single international trade show or trade mission plus related travel), landing well under the $10,000 cap — commonly in the $2,500–$7,500 range.
- Deadline
- Annual cycle tied to TDA's SBA STEP award; applications accepted first-come, first-served while funds last. Contact TDA's grants office for the current cycle's open window.
- Status
- active
- States
- Texas
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Texas small business that meets the SBA small business size standard
- Seeking to enter or expand into international export markets
- Exporting goods or services of U.S. origin or with at least 51% U.S. content
- In operation and able to document approved export activities
- Able to front the cost of activities and submit for post-completion reimbursement
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- International trade show / trade mission participation fees
- Related international business travel
- Export training and consulting
- Foreign market entry / market research activities
- Other pre-approved export-promotion expenses
Ineligible expenses
- Domestic marketing or non-export travel
- Activities not pre-approved by TDA
- Costs incurred before award approval
- General operating costs unrelated to export promotion
How to apply
-
1
Confirm eligibility and the open cycle
Verify SBA small-business size standard and Texas nexus, and confirm with TDA's grants office (or TexasAgriculture.gov) that the current STEP application window is open.
~2 hrs
-
2
Submit the STEP application to TDA
Complete TDA's STEP application identifying the export activity (trade show, trade mission, training/consulting, etc.) and estimated eligible costs. Submit early — awards are first-come, first-served.
~3 hrs
-
3
Get approval, then complete the activity
Receive TDA approval before incurring costs, then carry out the approved export activity within the allowed period.
~1 hrs
-
4
Submit for post-completion reimbursement
Provide receipts and documentation to TDA for post-completion reimbursement of up to $10,000 of approved expenses.
~2 hrs
Apply the moment the cycle opens — Texas STEP is explicitly first-come, first-served against a fixed annual SBA pool, so late applicants in a popular year can be shut out even if fully eligible. Have your target trade show and a rough budget ready before the window opens.
Deadline & timing
TDA opens a STEP application window after each SBA STEP award is received (typically annual). Because awards are first-come, first-served, applying early in the cycle is important. Confirm current status with the TDA grants office.
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