STEP Tennessee Readiness Questionnaire
  • SBA logo

    STEP Tennessee

  • STEP TENNESSEE READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE 

  • The Tennessee Export Initiative (TEI) at Belmont University, in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Tennessee District Export Council, and the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service Tennessee is offering eligible Tennessee small businesses the opportunity to participate in the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). Belmont University has been awarded the STEP grant, which is a federal grant administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) whose goal is to create economic growth by expanding Tennessee's export trade. Under the grant, TEI offers eligible Tennessee small businesses a variety of services and programs to help new companies become exporters and help existing exporters expand their international business.

    To be eligible to receive financial assistance under the STEP Tennessee grant, companies are required to complete the following forms, including the SBA Self-Representation Form.

    Please review the program guidelines before starting your application. This application should take about 15-20 minutes to complete, and we only need 1 or 2-sentence answers when required.

    If you have questions or need help, please contact:
     Jeffrey Overby, Director, Tennessee Export Initiative, TEl@belmont.edu

  • CONTACT INFORMATION


  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • STEP GRANT ELIGIBILITY

  • 1. Does your company meet the SBA definition of a small business (per 13CFR Part 121)? If you are unsure about this requirement, please use this guide: https://www.sba.gov/size-standards/index.html*
  • 2. Are the products or services offered by your company of U.S. origin or do they have at least 51% U.S.A. content? If you are unsure about this requirement, please use this guide: "How To: Calculate U.S. Content for Small Business Products": https://grow.exim.gov/blog/how-to-calculate-us-content-for-small-business-products-part-1*
  • 3. Has your company been in business for more than one (1) year?*
  • 4. Is your company headquartered in Tennessee (if company is not eligible in Tennessee, it may apply through the state in which its headquarters is located)?*
  • 5. Is your company registered and in good standing as a Tennessee for-profit business?*
  • 6. Is your company’s executive leadership committed to exporting and willing and able to dedicate staff and resources?*
  • 7. Do you export or seek to export a good or service?*
  • 8. Does your company have the financial resources to actively support the marketing of your products/service in targeted overseas markets along with the costs of packaging, shipping and distribution?*
  • 9. Does your company maintain a website?*

  • If you answered "No" to any of eligibility questions 1-9 you are NOT eligible for the STEP program. Please skip to Page 6 to find more information on how to become eligible.

    If you believe you are eligible for the STEP program, please click "Next" to continue to the next page.

  • BUSINESS PROFILE 

  • Is this business physically located and operational in Tennessee and in good standing under the laws of the State of Tennessee?
  • Is this business registered as an active for-profit business entity with the Tennessee Secretary of State and in good standing?
  • Is this business an affiliate or subsidiary of another company?*
  • Does your company have office locations or business operations outside the state of Tennessee?*
  • Is the owner of this business is a U.S. Citizen or is otherwise legally authorized to reside and operate a business in the U.S.?
  • Why is your company interested in starting to export or increasing your current level of exporting (choose as many as apply)?*

  • EXPORT ASSESSMENT

  • What statements reflect your company's export readiness (choose as many as apply)?*
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  • By clicking Yes below, applicant acknowledges that the information provided herein may be shared with Tennessee Export Initiative (TEI) partners listed above.*
  • Please indicate whether you consider your company to be NTE or ME as defined below.*

  • If NTE (new to export) or ME (exporting less than 3 years):

    Please complete the external Export Readiness Assessment (https://tntech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aYqiMuY1vUK3v7L?Q_JFE=qdg). Once you receive your results, please upload the pdf report below:

  • Browse Files
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  • If ME (Market Expansion):

  • How long have you been exporting?
  • What percent of your sales are through export?

  • Export Strategy

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  • PERMISSIONS & CERTIFICATION 

  • 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?*

  • Approval

  • The authorized representative MUST be a member of the senior management team. 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.

    The applicant certifies that:

    • To the best of my knowledge, the data in this application is correct and supporting documentation will be available to TEI for review upon request. I understand that submitting false or misleading information may result in being found ineligible for reimbursement and permanent disqualification from any future participation in this program.
    • I understand that information in this application will be shared with the TEI Office, District Export Councils of Tennessee, and the U.S. Commercial Service Tennessee.
  • Do you agree?*
  • Date*
     / /

  • For more information or assistance, please contact:
    Jeffrey Overby, Director, Tennessee Export Initiative, TEI@belmont.edu

     

  • If you are not yet export eligible, we encourage you to contact your nearest Small Business Administration (SBA) office or Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

  • SBA logo

  • SBA offices provide help with small business services including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting certifications, and disaster recovery. They can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed. Click here to find your local SBA office: https://www.sba.gov/district/tennessee

  • SBDC logo

  • SBDCs provide counseling, training and financing to small businesses looking to increase sales and profit by taking their businesses global. Click here to find your local SBDC office: https://tsbdc.org/centers/

  • Thank you for your interest. Please hit the "Submit" button.

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