Alabama State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant
The Alabama STEP Grant from the Alabama Department of Commerce funds export marketing and compliance research to help Alabama businesses expand internationally.
Funder: Alabama Department of Commerce
Due Dates: Rolling
Funding Amounts: Typical annual program pool: ~$565,000–$600,000; individual reimbursements vary by activity, subject to pre-approval.
Summary: Supports eligible Alabama small and medium-sized businesses with reimbursed export marketing expenses to expand international sales.
Key Information: All expenses must be pre-approved and comply with SBA/STEP guidelines; travel and marketing reimbursements have specific restrictions.
Description
The Alabama State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant, administered by the Alabama Department of Commerce, is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses in Alabama launch or grow their international export activities. The program reimburses a range of pre-approved export marketing expenses, including trade mission participation, trade show fees, international website localization, and compliance costs for foreign market standards. Funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the STEP Grant aims to increase the number of Alabama businesses exporting, boost the economic impact of Alabama exports, and foster entry into new international markets.
