Washington STEP Export Voucher Program
Washington State Department of Commerce
Up to $10,000/year
Export vouchers for WA small businesses
Washington State's STEP (State Trade Expansion Program) Export Voucher reimburses small businesses up to $10,000/year for international market expansion costs — trade shows, trade missions, translation, IP protection, compliance testing, distributor agreements, and EXIM insurance. Up to three vouchers per federal fiscal year, each capped at 75% of eligible costs. Since inception, 1,223+ WA businesses have used STEP, generating $562M+ in export sales.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $10,000
- Realistic amount
- Most businesses claim 1–2 vouchers per year, receiving $2,000–$7,500 in total reimbursement depending on the cost of tra…
- Deadline
- STEP voucher applications temporarily halted as of October 1, 2025. Program expected to resume when new SBA federal STEP grant funding is allocated. Monitor commerce.wa.gov for reopening.
- Status
- paused
- States
- WA
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Must qualify as a small business per SBA size standards (determined by NAICS code)
- Must be a Washington State-based business
- Distributors are eligible only if at least 51% of product value-added originates in the U.S.
- Must have a Washington State Statewide Vendor Number (SWV#) to receive reimbursement
- Applications must be submitted BEFORE the export activity takes place — retroactive applications are rejected
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- International marketing materials and translation services
- Trade show and trade mission fees (virtual or in-person)
- International business travel for up to two representatives
- Product sample shipment for foreign trade shows
- Compliance testing for export markets
- International intellectual property protection fees
- EXIM Bank export credit insurance
- Attorney fees for international distributor agreements
- U.S. Commercial Service fees
Ineligible expenses
- Domestic trade shows or events not targeting international markets
- Activities completed before voucher approval (retroactive claims)
- More than two business travelers per event
- General business operating expenses unrelated to export activity
How to apply
-
1
Confirm SWV# and program status
Register for a Washington State Statewide Vendor Number (SWV#) if you don't have one. Contact STEP.Vouchers@Commerce.wa.gov to confirm the program is currently accepting applications and get the current application link.
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2
Submit voucher application BEFORE the export activity
Complete the online application identifying the specific export activity (trade show, mission, translation project, etc.), estimated cost, and international market targeted. Applications covering future events are accepted; retroactive applications are denied.
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3
Receive voucher approval
Commerce reviews and approves the voucher. One voucher covers one event or trip. Multi-stop trips qualify if destinations are within the same global region.
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4
Complete the export activity and submit documentation
Attend the trade show, trade mission, or complete the approved activity. Retain all receipts, invoices, and proof of completion.
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5
Submit reimbursement within 30 days
Submit expense documentation within 30 days of trip/event completion. Commerce processes reimbursement in approximately 3 weeks.
Apply before booking — approved applications must precede the activity. When the program reopens, check for both vouchers AND WA Commerce trade missions, which have separate applications and often stack well.
Deadline & timing
As of October 1, 2025, applications for STEP export vouchers were temporarily halted due to federal STEP funding constraints. The program has historically opened each October with the new federal fiscal year. Contact STEP.Vouchers@Commerce.wa.gov for current status. Applications must be submitted BEFORE the export activity occurs — retroactive reimbursement is not permitted.
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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.