Opportunity Information: Apply for SB OIT STEP 2026 01
The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) 2026 is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to support state-level efforts that help small businesses expand into international markets. The program sits within the Business and Commerce activity category (CFDA 59.061) and is designed to fund export and trade promotion activities run at the state or territory level, with the goal of strengthening small business exporting and increasing participation in global trade.
A key feature of this opportunity is that eligibility is tightly limited by statute. Under the Small Business Act, STEP awards can be made only to "states," which is defined broadly to include any U.S. state plus the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. As a result, the applicant must be a non-federal entity that fits within this definition and is positioned to administer the award on behalf of the state or territory.
For this Notice of Funding Opportunity, the SBA further narrows eligibility by requiring that the applicant be the state agency or other entity that has been officially designated, before applying, as the sole applicant and lead entity responsible for the state's trade and export activities. This designation must come from the governor or an equivalent authority (for example, the mayor of the District of Columbia, or the appropriate signatory for insular areas). In practical terms, the SBA is looking for the state's official international trade arm, operating with a clear and formal relationship to state government. The organizational structure must show that official state agency relationship, and the state must demonstrate financial backing, including support for meeting the required matching funds and for carrying out program activities.
The designation requirement is not optional paperwork; it is a gatekeeping element. Only proposals that include a written designation letter from the governor or an authorized designee will be considered. If the governor (or equivalent) delegates signature authority to a designee, the designation letter must explicitly state that the governor has authorized that person to sign on their behalf. This is meant to prevent ambiguity about who the official lead entity is and to ensure the SBA is funding the correct statewide organization.
Based on the opportunity record, the program will make multiple awards, with an expected 55 awards and an award ceiling of $900,000 per award. The funding instrument is a grant. The opportunity was created on July 10, 2026, and the original closing date for applications is August 18, 2026. While the listing includes categories such as state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and certain 501(c)(3) nonprofits as eligible applicant types, the controlling condition is still the official designation by the governor (or equivalent) as the sole applicant and lead entity for statewide trade and export activities. In other words, an institution of higher education or nonprofit would only be eligible if it is formally designated in that lead role by the state and can demonstrate the required official relationship and state support.
Overall, STEP 2026 is best understood as a state-administered export expansion grant. The SBA is not soliciting applications from individual small businesses directly under this notice; instead, it is funding the state or territory entity that coordinates trade promotion and export assistance, with the expectation that those activities will ultimately benefit small businesses by expanding their ability to compete and sell internationally.Apply for SB OIT STEP 2026 01
- The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "State Trade Expansion Program 2026" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.061.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 55 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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STEP 2026 (State Trade Expansion Program) Grant FAQs
1) What is the STEP 2026 grant opportunity?
STEP 2026 (State Trade Expansion Program) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). It supports state- and territory-level efforts that help small businesses expand into international markets by funding export and trade promotion activities coordinated at the state or territory level.
2) What is the purpose of STEP 2026?
The program is designed to strengthen small business exporting and increase participation in global trade. SBA funds a designated statewide entity to run export and trade promotion activities that ultimately benefit small businesses seeking to compete and sell internationally.
3) Is STEP 2026 a grant or another type of funding instrument?
STEP 2026 uses a grant as the funding instrument.
4) What activity category and CFDA number does STEP 2026 fall under?
The opportunity sits within the Business and Commerce activity category and is identified as CFDA 59.061.
5) Who is allowed to apply for STEP 2026?
Eligibility is limited by statute under the Small Business Act. STEP awards can be made only to "states," defined to include U.S. states and certain U.S. territories and areas (see the list in the next FAQ). The applicant must be a non-federal entity that fits within that definition and is positioned to administer the award on behalf of the state or territory.
6) Which jurisdictions are included in the program's definition of a "state"?
For STEP, "state" is defined broadly to include any U.S. state plus the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
7) Does SBA accept applications from individual small businesses under this notice?
No. Under this notice, SBA is not soliciting applications from individual small businesses. Instead, SBA funds the state or territory entity that coordinates trade promotion and export assistance, with the expectation that small businesses benefit through those statewide activities.
8) What does SBA require beyond being a state or territory to be eligible to apply?
For this Notice of Funding Opportunity, SBA requires that the applicant be the state agency or other entity that has been officially designated (before applying) as the sole applicant and lead entity responsible for the state's trade and export activities. This designation must come from the governor or an equivalent authority.
9) What is meant by "sole applicant and lead entity" for statewide trade and export activities?
It means SBA expects one officially recognized statewide organization to be the primary entity responsible for administering STEP-funded trade and export activities for the state or territory. The applicant must be the designated lead entity for the state's trade and export efforts, operating with a clear and formal relationship to state government.
10) Who can provide the official designation required to apply?
The designation must come from the governor or an equivalent authority. Examples noted include the mayor of the District of Columbia or the appropriate signatory for insular areas.
11) Is the designation letter required, or is it optional?
It is required and functions as a gatekeeping element. Only proposals that include a written designation letter from the governor or an authorized designee will be considered.
12) Can someone other than the governor sign the designation letter?
Yes, if the governor (or equivalent) delegates signature authority to a designee. However, the designation letter must explicitly state that the governor has authorized that person to sign on their behalf.
13) When must the designation be in place?
The entity must be officially designated before applying. The SBA is looking for the state's official international trade arm with a clear and formal relationship to state government at the time of application.
14) What kinds of organizations might be listed as eligible applicant types, and how does the designation requirement affect them?
The listing includes categories such as state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and certain 501(c)(3) nonprofits. However, the controlling condition is official designation by the governor (or equivalent) as the sole applicant and lead entity for statewide trade and export activities. A university or nonprofit would only be eligible if it is formally designated in that lead role and can demonstrate the required official relationship and state support.
15) What organizational relationship does SBA expect the applicant to have with state government?
The organizational structure must show an official state agency relationship, reflecting a clear and formal connection to state government. SBA is seeking the statewide organization that serves as the official international trade arm for the state or territory.
16) What does the opportunity say about state financial backing and matching funds?
The state must demonstrate financial backing, including support for meeting required matching funds and for carrying out program activities. The opportunity emphasizes that the applicant should be positioned to administer the award on behalf of the state or territory with demonstrated state support.
17) How many awards does SBA expect to make?
Based on the opportunity record, SBA expects to make multiple awards, with an expected total of 55 awards.
18) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $900,000 per award.
19) What is the application timeline provided in the opportunity record?
The opportunity record indicates it was created on July 10, 2026, and the original closing date for applications is August 18, 2026.
20) What types of activities are intended to be supported by STEP 2026?
The program is designed to fund export and trade promotion activities run at the state or territory level. These activities are intended to strengthen small business exporting and increase participation in global trade.
21) Why does SBA emphasize the designation letter and signature authority details?
The designation requirement is intended to prevent ambiguity about who the official lead entity is and to ensure SBA is funding the correct statewide organization responsible for trade and export activities. If signature authority is delegated, the explicit statement of authorization is meant to clarify that the signatory is acting on behalf of the governor (or equivalent authority).
22) In one sentence, how should STEP 2026 be understood?
STEP 2026 is best understood as a state-administered export expansion grant where SBA funds a designated statewide entity to deliver export and trade promotion services that benefit small businesses.
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