State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant Application

State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant Application
For assistance or questions, contact Kathy Gain at kathy.gain@okcommerce.gov or 405-815-5267.

See instructions and required documents before beginning your application.
Which STEP grants are you applying for?

STEP 8 Grant (2020) STEP 9 Grant (2021)
Contact Information
Company Legal Name: *
Enter your full company legal name.
DBA or Other Company Name (Optional):
Company Contact Name: *

First Name Last Name
Company Contact Title: *
Company Contact Email: *
example@example.com
Company Contact Phone Number: *
Company Website: *
Company Address: *

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

City State / Province

Postal / Zip Code
STEP Activities

Select the activities you are applying for.
See http://okcommerce.gov/step for details on each activity and trade show.
Export Training and Assessment Services:

Export Compliance Training Webinars Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance Business Assessment
Website Translation Services:

Website Translation & Optimization - 1 language/country Website Translation & Optimization - 2 languages/countries
Trade Missions:

OK Commerce Led Trade Missions
STEP Eligible Trade Shows:

NBAA – October 18 – 20, 2022, Orlando, FL MRO Europe – October 18 – 20, 2022, London SEMA Show – November 1 – 4, 2022, Las Vegas, NV American Towman Expo, November 11- 14, 2022, Baltimore, MD ITSEC – November 29 – December 3, 2022, Orlando, FL Heli Expo – March 7 – 10, 2023, Atlanta, GA Aerospace & Defense Showcase – April 11 – 13, 2023, Seattle, WA MRO Americas – April 18 – 20, 2023, Atlanta, GA Paris Air Show – June 19 – 25, 2023, Paris Air Carriers & Purchasing Conference – August 19 – 22, 2023, New York, NY AUVSI – May 8 – 11, 2023, Denver, CO Oklahoma Commerce lead Trade Mission (In-person or virtual) OMA Assessment Other - STEP approval required
Trade show name:
Name of Trade show
Trade show location:
Trade show date

Month Day Year
Date

Please list additional trade shows you are interested in not currently listed as STEP approved.

	Show Name	Date	Location	Show Website
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STEP Grant Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, an applicant must own a small Oklahoma-based business which: (1) is organized or incorporated in the United States; (2) is operating in the United States; (3) has been in business for not less than 1 year, as of the date on which assistance is provided using this grant; (4) Has access to sufficient resources to bear the costs associated with trade, including the costs of packing, shipping, freight forwarding, and customs brokers; (5) in good business standing; and (6) complies with SBA size standards 13 C.F.R. Part 121.
Does your company qualify as a Small Business according to SBA's North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)? See SBA size standards 13 C.F.R. Part 121 above. *

Yes No
Industry Classification Code: *
NAICS Code
Is your company foreign owned/invested/operated? *

Yes No
Primary Industry:
Average Annual Employment: *
All employees of affiliates, such as parent companies, subsidiaries, etc., must be included.
STEP Grant Application History
Has this company ever applied for a STEP grant? *

Yes No
Company Details
Year Established: *
How long has your company been in business? *
In whole years.
Company Certifications and Classifications: *

Woman-owned Veteran-owned Disabled Veteran-owned Rural Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Not Disadvantaged None of the above apply
DBE Definition: A DBE is a for-profit small business concern that is at least 51% owned by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged (for reasons other than woman-owned, minority-owned or veteran-owned) and who control the management and daily business operations of the company.
What are your company's principal products or services? *
Do your products, if applicable, contain a majority of US content (51% or higher)? *

Yes No
How is your company organized? *

Sole Proprietorship Limited Liability Company Corporation Joint Venture Corporation Joint Venture
Does your company have office locations or business operations outside the state of Oklahoma? *

Yes No
What other states does your company have locations or operations in?
Enter state names separated by commas. Example: "Colorado, Texas, Kansas"
How many employees does your company have in Oklahoma? *
How many employees does your company have in all locations, including Oklahoma? *
How many jobs does your company forecast creating if awarded a STEP grant? *
What are your average annual sales? *
Export Assessment
In general, "Export Ready" companies are currently generating at least 5% of revenue from international sales.
What is your level of export experience? *

Not Export Ready (new to exporting) Export Ready and/or market expansion
Why is your company interested in starting to export or increasing your current level of exporting? *

Increase sales volume/profits Maximize current mfg. capacity Diversify risk Level out cyclical demand for products Expand to new international markets Keep up with competition Satisfy customer demand from abroad
Does your company have access to sufficient resources to bear the costs associated with trade, including the costs of packing, shipping, freight forwarding, and customs brokers. *

Yes No
Approximately what percentage of your company's total sales are from exports? *
Has this percentage been increasing or decreasing annually? *

Increasing Decreasing Not applicable - Not currently exporting
What method of exporting does your company use? *

Agents/distributors Sales representatives Direct sales to end-users Use of export management company/consultant Not applicable - Not currently exporting
How are/would your products be shipped internationally? *

Land Air Ocean
Describe any difficulties or barriers you have encountered in exporting your product(s) (if applicable):

List countries (not regions/continents) that your company will target if awarded STEP: *

	Countries
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2
3
4
5

List the countries that your company has previously or is currently exporting to:

	Countries
1
2
3
4
5

What statements reflect your company's export readiness? *

Our company management is committed to developing export markets and willing and able to dedicate staff, time and resources to the process. We are committed to providing the same level of service given to our domestic customers. We have a product or service that has been successfully sold in the domestic market. We have or are preparing an international marketing plan with defined goals and strategies. We have sufficient production capacity that can be committed to the export market. We have adequate knowledge in shipping products overseas by being able to identify and select international freight forwarders and freight costing. We have adequate knowledge in modifying product packaging and ingredients to meet foreign import regulations and cultural preferences. We have adequate knowledge of export payment mechanisms, such as developing and negotiating letters of credit.
Are you currently aware that assistance is available in the following areas? *

US Department of Commerce (USDOC) US Small Business Administration (US SBA) US Export Import Bank (US EXIM) Oklahoma Department of Commerce Oklahoma-Mexico International Trade Office Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Oklahoma District Export Council (DEC) Oklahoma Governor's International Team (GIT) Foreign Translation Providers International Banker Freight Forwarder Customs House Broker Transportation/freight Company (land, air, ocean) International Attorney International Accounting Export Compliance
Required Documents
Upload scans of completed documents below in PDF format. Find information on required documents and download copies of forms on our STEP page.
Upload the "Debarment Certification Form" (SBA Form 1624) to certify that the applicant is not on the U.S. Excluded Parties. *

Browse Files

Cancel of
Upload the "Self Representation as an Eligible Small Business Concern" form. *

Browse Files

Cancel of
Upload a completed Vendor Payee form. *

Browse Files

Cancel of
Upload the "Certificate for Competitive Bid and or Contract" form. *

Browse Files

Cancel of
Upload the "Terms and Conditions for Sole Source Acquisition" form. *

Browse Files

Cancel of
Upload a certificate of liability insurance. *

Browse Files

Cancel of
Upload a completed LLC Verification of Disregarded Entity form. *

Browse Files

Cancel of
SBA Opt-in

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) would like to give eligible small businesses the opportunity to expand your knowledge and resources of other programs that are offered by the agency.
May we share your company's name and contact information with other programs offered by SBA? *

Yes No
Your choice to participate will not change the status of your participation with STEP. SBA's aim is strictly to share information about other opportunities with you.
Approval

The signature of a member of the STEP Grant applicant's senior management team is required to authorize the submission of this evaluation for the STEP Program to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. With this signature, the information presented in this document is accepted as an accurate representation of the company's activities for the purpose of evaluating the success of the activities as they relate to the STEP Program.
Signature *

Clear
Authorization: *

I hereby certify that all information provided in this document, as well as any accompanying documents, are true and complete.
Should be Empty:

State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant Application

Contact Information

STEP Activities

STEP Grant Eligibility Requirements

STEP Grant Application History

Company Details

Export Assessment

Required Documents

SBA Opt-in

Approval