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Subjects: AWD, EXE, SBS

SBA Announces FY 2018 State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Awards


WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that $18 million in funding has been awarded to 47 State international trade agencies through SBA's competitive State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), to support export growth among U.S. small businesses.

SBA LOGO. (PRNewsFoto/U.S. Small Business Administration) (PRNewsFoto/U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINIS...) (PRNewsfoto/U.S. Small Business Administrat)

STEP is designed to meet three distinctive goals: to increase the number of small businesses that export, to increase the value of exports for small businesses, and to increase the number of small businesses that explore significant new trade opportunities.  Expanding the base of small business exporters and making the process as easy as possible is a key component of the Administration's small business strategy.

"The SBA is committed to ensuring equal access for small businesses to international markets and expanding export opportunities, and ensuring small businesses have the resources they need to drive their businesses and local communities forward," said SBA Administrator Linda McMahon.  "The STEP awards are an important resource that provide small businesses with the confidence and funding they need to thrive in this competitive international market."

Since the beginning of the STEP program seven years ago, approximately $138 million in grants have been awarded to fund export opportunities and increase the footprint of small businesses in countries all over the world. 

The 2018 STEP awards will allow states to assist small businesses with the information and tools they need to succeed in export-related activities that are in line with the objectives of the program. These objectives include participation in foreign trade missions, foreign market sales trips, services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, as well as design of international marketing campaigns, export trade show exhibits, training workshops and more.

STEP awards are managed and provided at the local level by state government organizations. The program is managed at the national level by the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of International Trade.

STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM (STEP)
FY 2018 (Year7)  AWARDEES


#

State 

Office Information

Primary Point of Contact

 Federal Award 

 Match 

 Total  Project 

1

Alabama

Alabama Department Of Commerce

Hilda Lockhart

$151,857

$50,619

$202,476



401 Adams Avenue, Suite 630

STEP Project Director






Montgomery, Alabama 36130

Phone:  334-242-0442  






http://www.madeinalabama.com/divisions/business-development/international-trade/

[email protected]











2

Arizona

Arizona Commerce Authority

Kevin J. O'Shea

$300,057

$100,019

$400,076



118 N. 7th Avenue, Suite 400

STEP Project Director






Phoenix, AZ 85007

Phone: 602-845-1217






https://azcommerce.com/programs/arizona-step-grant/

[email protected]











3

Arkansas

World Trade Center Arkansas

Trish Watkins

$150,000

$50,000

$200,000



3300 South Market Street, Suite 400

STEP Project Director






Rogers, Arkansas 72758

Phone: 479-418-4827






www.arwtc.org/STEP

[email protected]











4

California

Department of Food & Agriculture

Jeffrey A. Williamson

$650,000

$349,999

$999,999



1220 N. Street, Suite 400

STEP Project Director






Sacramento, California 95814

Phone: 909- 556-6639






www.californiaexport.org. 

[email protected] 











5

Commonwealth of
Northern Marianas

CNMI Department of Commerce

Mark Rabauliman

$150,000

$0

$150,000



P.O. Box 5795 CHRB

STEP Project Director






Saipan, MP 96950

Phone: (670) 664-3077






www.commerce.gov.mp

[email protected]











6

Colorado

Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

Laura Brindle

$324,804

$108,268

$433,072



1625 Broadway St. Suite 2700

STEP Project Director






Denver, CO 80202

Phone: 303-892-3858






http://choosecolorado.com

[email protected]











7

Connecticut

Department of Economic and Community Development

Ms. Laura Jaworski

$300,000

$100,000

$400,000



450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 5

STEP Project Director






Hartford, Connecticut USA 06103

Phone: 1 860-270-8068






www.decd.org

[email protected]











8

Delaware

Division of Corporate and International Development

David Mathe 

$268,096

$89,365

$357,461



820 N. French Street

STEP Project Director






Wilmington, DE  19801

Phone: 302-577-8467






http://global.delaware.gov/expand/strategies-growth/access-to-capital.shtml 

[email protected]











9

Guam

Guam Economic Development Authority

Matthew Baza

$150,000

$0

$150,000



590 S. Marine Corps Drive. Suite 511, ITC Building

STEP Project Director






Tamuning, Guam 96913

Phone:(671) 647-4332






www.investguam.com

[email protected]











10

Hawaii

Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism 

Jamie Lumm

$450,000

$150,000

$600,000



250 S. Hotel Street, 5th Floor

STEP Project Director






Honolulu, HI 96813

Phone: (808) 587-2753






http://invest.hawaii.gov/exporting/histep/ 

[email protected]











11

Idaho

Idaho Department of Commerce

Tina Salisbury

$600,000

$200,000

$800,000



700 W State Street

STEP Project Director






P.O. Box 83720

Phone: 208-287-3164






Boise, Idaho 83720

[email protected]






http://commerce.idaho.gov/idaho-business/international-trade/step-grant 












12

Illinois

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Margo Markopoulos

$700,000

$233,333

$933,333



Office of Trade and Investment 

STEP Project Director






100 W. Randolph, Suite 3-400

Phone:  312- 814-3116






Chicago, Illinois  60601

[email protected]  






www.exports.illinois.gov  












13

Iowa

Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA)

Lisa Longman

$200,000

$66,667

$266,667



200 East Grand Avenue

STEP Project Director






Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: (515) 348-6243






www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com  

[email protected]  











14

Kansas

Kansas Department of Commerce

Chang Lu

$200,000

$66,667

$266,667



1000 SW Jackson Avenue, St #100

STEP Project Director






Topeka, KS 66612

Phone: 913- 307-7378    






www.kansascommerce.com/STEP  

[email protected]











15

Kentucky 

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development

Darlene Barber

$400,000

$133,333

$533,333



Old Capitol Annex

STEP Project Director






300 West Broadway

Phone: 502-782-1940 






Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

[email protected] 






http://kyexports.com/STEP-grants.aspx












16

Louisiana

Louisiana Department of Economic Development

Jessica L. Steverson 

$200,000

$66,667

$266,667



1051 North Third Street

STEP Project Director






Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802

Phone: 225-342-2537






http://opportunitylouisiana.com 

jessica [email protected] 











17

Maine

Maine International Trade Center

Wade Merritt

$344,500

$114,833

$459,333



2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 204

STEP Project Director






Portland, Maine 04101

Phone: (207) 541-7408






www.mitc.com/how-we-help/grants/ 

[email protected]











18

Maryland

Maryland Department of Commerce

Signe Pringle

$550,000

$183,333

$733,333



401 East Pratt Street      

STEP Project Director






Baltimore, Maryland 21202   

Phone: 410-767-3542






http://commerce.maryland.gov/grow/expand-to-international-markets 

[email protected]











19

Massachusetts

Commonwealth of Massachusets

Mark Sullivan

$500,000

$166,667

$666,667



Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development

STEP Project Director






Office of International Trade & Investment

Phone: 617-973-8543






10 Park Plaza, Suite 3730

[email protected]






Boston, MA 02116







www.mass.gov/MOITl 












20

Michigan

Michigan Strategic Fund

Natalie Chmiko

$800,000

$266,666

$1,066,666



300 North Washington Square

STEP Project Director






Lansing, MI 48933 

Phone 517.335.2854   






http://www.michiganbusiness.org/grow/international-trade-services/#step 

[email protected]











21

Minnesota

Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development

Gabrielle Gerbaud

$144,750

$48,250

$193,000



332 Minnesota Street, Suite E200

STEP Project Director






St. Paul, Minnessota 55101

Phone: 651-259-7489






https://mn.gov/deed/business/exporting/export-financing/

[email protected]











22

Mississippi

Mississippi Development Authority

Rose Boxx

$540,000

$180,000

$720,000



P.O BOX 849

STEP Project Director






Jackson, MS 39202

Phone: 601 359-3045






https://www.mississippi.org/home-page/our-advantages/incentives/state-  trade-export-programs/ 

[email protected] 











23

Missouri

Missouri Department of Economic Development

Ann Pardalos

$350,000

$116,667

$466,667



Business & Community Services

STEP Director






Harry S. Truman Building, Room 720

Phone:  573-751-6605






301 W. High Street

[email protected]






Jefferson City, Missouri 65101







http://www.exportmissouri.mo.gov 












24

Montana

Montana Department of Commerce

Angelyn DeYoung

$325,000

$108,333

$433,333



Department of Commerce

STEP Project Director






301 S. Park Ave.

Phone: 406-841-2783






Helena, MT  59620

[email protected] 






http://businessresources.mt.gov/MIMAP 












25

Nebraska

Nebraska Department of Economic Development

Susan R. Rouch

$500,000

$166,667

$666,667



301 Centennial Mall South

STEP Project Director






PO Box 94666

Phone: 402-471-4668






Lincoln, NE  68509

[email protected]






http://www.opportunity.nebraska.gov












26

Nevada

Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) 

Gina Rodriguez

$150,000

$50,000

$200,000



555 E. Washington Ave., Suite 5400

Interim STEP Project Director






 Las Vegas, NV 89101

Phone: 702-486-0587






http://www.diversifynevada.com/selecting-nevada/global/step-grant 

[email protected]











27

New Hampshire

Department of Resources and Economic Development/Office of International Commerce

Tina Kasim

$250,000

$83,333

$333,333



172 Pembroke Road

STEP Project Director






Concord, NH 03301

Phone: 603-271-8444






https://nhexportassistance.com/export-promotion-grants/step-grant/  

[email protected]











28

New Jersey

New Jersey Business Action Center

Eddy Mayen

$700,000

$233,333

$933,333



225 West State Street

STEP Director






P.O. Box 820

Phone:609-633-1182 






Trenton, NJ 08625-0820

[email protected] 






http://www.njstep.nj.gov 












29

New Mexico

New Mexico Economic Development Department

Edward R. Herrera

$200,000

$66,667

$266,667



1100 St. Francis Drive

STEP Project Director






Sante Fe New Mexico 87505

Phone: 505-827-0315






http://gonm.biz/business-resource-center/edd-programs-for-business/international-trade/ 

[email protected]











30

New York

Empire State Development

Lennox Ruiz

$700,000

$233,333

$933,333



633 Third Avenue, 36th Floor

STEP Project Director






New York, NY  10017

Phone: 212-803-2344






http://esd.ny.gov/International/STEP_NYS.html

[email protected]











31

North Carolina

Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina

Mike Hubbard

$700,000

$233,333

$933,333



Global Business Services, 

STEP Project Director






15000 Weston Parkway

Phone: 919-447-7751






Cary, NC 27513

[email protected] 






https://www.nccommerce.com/trade/export-resources/step-program  












32

North Dakota

North Dakota Trade Office 

Simon Wilsom

$247,614

$82,538

$330,152



811 2nd Avenue, N, Suite 284

STEP Project Director






Fargo, ND 58108

Phone:701-231-1159






http://ndto.com/step-nd/ 

[email protected]











33

Ohio

Ohio Development Services Agency

Thien Bui

$700,000

$233,333

$933,333



77 South High Street, 28thFloor

STEP Project Director






Columbus, Ohio  43216

Phone: (614) 466-4996






www.IMAGE.development.ohio.gov  

[email protected]











34

Oregon

Oregon Business Development Department

Amanda Welker

$562,500

$187,500

$750,000



775 Summer ST NE, Suite 200

STEP Project Director






Salem, OR  97301

Phone: 503-229-6063






www.oregon4biz.com/Global-Connections/Export-Promotion/

[email protected]











35

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development

Katherine Skopp

$500,000

$166,667

$666,667



400 North Street, 4th Floor 

STEP Project Director






Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225

Phone: 717-720-7361






www.visitPA.com 

[email protected]











36

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Trade & Export Company

Maria R. Batista Santaella

$300,000

$100,000

$400,000



159 Chardon Avenue

STEP Project Director






New San Juan Building

Phone:(787) 294-0101 Ext. 2034






San Juan, PR 00919

[email protected]






http://www.comercioyexportacion.com












37

Rhode Island 

John H. Chafee Center for International Business

Linda Woulfe

$374,002

$124,667

$498,669



Bryant University

STEP Project Director






1150 Douglas Pike

Phone:401- 232-6525






Smithfield, RI 02917

[email protected]






http://www.bryant.edu/about/centers-and-institutes/john-h-chafee-center-for-international-business/ 












38

South Carolina

South Carolina Department of Commerce 

Norris Thigpen 

$360,400

$120,133

$480,533



1201 Main Street, Suite 1600

STEP Project Director






Columbia SC 29201 

Phone: (803) 737-0598






http://sccommerce.com/sc-business-network/export-services 

[email protected]











39

Tennessee 

Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development

Leslee T. Alexander

$150,000

$50,000

$200,000



312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 27th Floor

STEP Project Director






Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Phone: 615-483-7293






www.tnecd.com

[email protected]











40

Texas

Texas Department of Agriculture

Mindy Fryer

$600,000

$323,076

$923,076



1700 North Congress Avenue, 11th Floor

STEP Project Director






P.O. Box 12847

Phone: 512-463-6908 






Austin, TX 78711

[email protected]






http://www.texasagriculture.gov/ 












41

Utah

Utah World Trade Center Corporation

Nicole Sherwood

$300,000

$100,000

$400,000



60 East South Temple, Suite 300

STEP Project Director 






Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Phone: 801-






http://business.utah.gov/partners/wtcutah/

[email protected]











42

Vermont

Agency of Commerce & Community Development

Katie Corrigan

$306,420

$102,140

$408,560



National Life Building, 6thFloor

STEP Project Director






Montpelier, VT 05620-0501

Phone: (802) 272-1420






http://accd.vermont.gov/economic-development/programs/international-trade/grants

[email protected]











43

Virgin Islands 

United States Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority

Nadine Marchena Kean

$150,000

$0

$150,000



8000 Nisky Shopping Center, Suite 620 

STEP Director






St. Thomas, Virgin Island 00802

Phone: (340) 714-1700






www.usvieda.org

[email protected]











44

Virginia

Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP)

Monica Sadie 

$200,000

$66,667

$266,667



One James Center

STEP Project Director






901 E. Cary Street, Suite 900

Phone: 804-545-5763






Richmond, Virginia 23219

[email protected]






www.exportvirginia.org/services/programs-grants   












45

Washington

Washington State Department of Commerce

Mary Ferguson

$750,000

$403,845

$1,153,845



2001 6th avenue Suite 2600

STEP Project Director






Seattle ,Wa 98121-2895

Phone: (206) 256-6130      






http://www.exportwashington.com/programs-and-services/export-grant-loan/step-grant/Pages/default.aspx 

[email protected] 











46

West Virginia

West Virginia Department of Commerce dba WV Development Office

Enybe Diaz Valenzuela

$250,000

$83,333

$333,333



1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Building 6 Room 553

STEP Project Director






Charleston, West Virginia 25305

Phone: (304) 957-2018






http://www.westvirginia.gov/step.html

[email protected]











47

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Monica Wahlberg

$300,000

$100,000

$400,000



201 West Washington Ave.

STEP Project Director






Madison, WI  53073

Phone: 608-210-6734






http://inwisconsin.com/export/assistance/global-business-development-program/ 

[email protected]



































Total 

$18,000,000



About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality.  As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster.

It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

PRESS OFFICE
Release Date: September 19, 2018                    Contact: [email protected] 
Release Number: 18-56                           Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs & Instagram

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration


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