SC Commerce's Export Incentives Program is designed to drive economic growth and job creation through export development. Eligible South Carolina small businesses may qualify for financial assistance to offset a portion of the costs associated with pre-approved export-related activities. 

Please review the program guidelines before starting the application. This application should take 15-20 minutes to complete.

If you have any questions, please contact export@sccommerce.com

 

 BUSINESS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

 

• Organized or incorporated in the United States.
• Headquartered in, or operating in South Carolina.
• In business for no less than two years.
• Meets SBA size standards for a small business per 3 C.F.R. § 121.101 .           
• Has a strategic export plan, an understanding of, and access to sufficient resources to bear the costs associated with exporting.
• Has an export-ready product or service, which is either of U.S. origin or has at least 51% U.S. content (as defined below).

The SCDOC  does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, genetic information, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by federal or state law. 

All fields market with * are required. 

If you answered “No” to any of the eligibility questions above, you are not eligible for the Export Incentives Program at this time. Please select “Skip to page 10” below to submit your responses.

We encourage you to contact our team at export@sccommerce.com, your nearest Small Business Administration, South Carolina or your local South Carolina Small Business Development Centers office for additional assistance.

 

NAICS Lookup

To receive reimbursement, air travel must adhere to the Fly America Act.

 

Reimbursements for Lodging are based on federal maximum lodging rates: International and Domestic.

SELF-REPRESENTATION AS AN "ELIGIBLE SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN"

The undersigned seeks services from a State grant recipient under the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (HR 644) which authorized the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP).
Section 503 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 defines the term 'eligible small business concern,’ as a business concern that:

1. Is organized or incorporated in the United States;

2. Is operating in the United States,

3. Meets                                                                                                                                      a. The applicable industry-based small business size standard established under section 3 of the Small Business Act; or
    b. The alternate size standard applicable to the program under section 7(a) of the Small Business Act and the loan programs under title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 695 et seq.); The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards are found at 13 C.F.R. Part 121. Use the following sba.gov link for information on size standards for your business (https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/size-standards)

4. Has been in business for not less than 1 year, as of the date on which assistance using a grant under this subsection commences; and

5. Has access to sufficient resources to bear the costs associated with trade, including the costs of packing, shipping, freight forwarding, and customs brokers.

The undersigned certifies that this is an export ready U.S. company seeking to export goods or services of U.S. origin or have at least 51% U.S. content.
Submitting false information in order to obtain services from a STEP grant recipient is a violation of Federal law. If you submit false information the Government may seek criminal, civil, and/or administrative remedies against you, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 1001, 1040; and 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733. The Government may elect to exclude you from further participation in certain Federal programs and contracts if you submit false information in connection with receiving services from a STEP grant recipient.

I hereby certify that the business I represent is seeking services from a STEP grant recipient and is an eligible small business concern,* pursuant to the above definition.

All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

 

 

 

Certification Regarding
Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion Lower Tier Covered Transactions

This certification is required by the regulations implementing Executive Order 12549, Debarment and Suspension, 13 CFR Part 145. The regulations were published as Part VII of the May 26, 1988 Federal Register (pages 19160-19211). Copies of the regulations may be obtained by contacting the person to which this proposal is submitted.

(BEFORE COMPLETING CERTIFICATION, READ INSTRUCTIONS ON REVERSE)

(1) The prospective lower tier participant certifies, by submission of this proposal, that neither it nor its principals are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for disbarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any Federal department or agency.

(2) Where the prospective lower tier participant is unable to certify to any of the statements in this certification, such prospective participant shall attach an explanation to this proposal.

 

SBA Form 1624 (12/92)

Applications are reviewed by an evaluation committee (to determine export potential) on a rolling basis until all funds are expended. Applications should be submitted prior to any activity for which funds are requested. Incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible. Applications will be disqualified if a company has received or is receiving funding from other source for the same activity.

The SCDOC will notify applicants if they are approved for funding, and the maximum dollar amount for which they may be reimbursed. To receive reimbursement, companies must complete all required items – SBA’s Self-representation and Certification Regarding Debarment forms, IRS W-9 “Request for Taxpayer ID and Certification, S.C. vendor number, etc., - execute the proposed event/activity, and submit the completed reimbursement package and post-event survey.

All funds are reimbursed to the company not individuals.
If a business has an outstanding tax lien with the South Carolina Department of Revenue or the Internal Revenue Services, in lieu of reimbursement to the company, payments will be remitted to these entities.

By signing below, the signer certifies that the company meets all the requirements for the South Carolina Export Incentives Program, and that all information provided in this document, and any accompanying documents is true and complete. In addition, he/she agrees to complete reporting requirements including disclosure of export sales and leads generated.