Montana STEP Grant
Are you planning any international marketing activities in 2024? The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) is a federal grant administered by the ExportMontana team at the Montana Department of Commerce. The Montana STEP grant can help offset the cost of your export plans. See below to learn more about the grant.
Q & A Webinar
ExportMontana will offer a webinar and Q&A on the STEP grant and international marketing activities, Wednesday, October 18, at 9 a.m. Register here for the live event or to receive the webinar recording.
International Trade Shows
Planning on exhibiting at any international trade shows in 2024? Whether the show is outside the USA or it is domestic with international visitors, you may be eligible for 50% reimbursement, up to $10,000 + $2,000 for travel costs. Learn more.
Market Research and U.S. Commercial Service Programs
Researching and finding partners in international markets can be difficult to do on your own. The STEP grant can reimburse 75% of the cost of programs from the U.S. Commercial Service, up to $5,000, including:
- Initial Market Check
- RAISE Market Research
- Website Globalization Review Gap Analysis
- International Company Profile
- International Partner Search
- Gold Key Matching Service
Learn more.
Foreign Language Translation
Whether you’re translating your website, creating brochures in a foreign language or using an onsite translator for trade shows, communicating with buyers in their language can be key to making the sale. To help defray the costs of translation, the Montana STEP grant provides 50% reimbursement, up to $10,000. Learn more.
International Compliance Testing and Intellectual Property Protection
International compliance testing (e.g. CE Mark, etc.) and international intellectual property protection (IPP) fees (e.g. trademarks, patents, etc.) can be a barrier to entry in some international markets. To help defray this expense, the STEP grant provides 50% reimbursement of the cost of testing services and IPP fees, up to $10,000. Learn more.
International Website and Digital Marketing
The STEP grant can reimburse 50% of the cost of many aspects of your international online strategy, up to $10,000. This includes your website, online marketplace, social media and third party in-country distributor. Learn more.
International Credit Insurance from EXIM Bank
Protecting your international accounts receivable from non-payment is an important aspect of your international financial strategy. EXIM Bank of the USA offers affordable credit insurance, sometimes as low as $100. To help Montana exporters, EXIM credit insurance policies are now eligible for the Montana STEP grant, 50% up to $10,000. Learn more.
International Travel Stipend
Whether you're traveling to a foreign country to exhibit at a trade show or to make sales visits, you're eligible to apply for reimbursement of up to $2,000 of your travel expenses from the STEP grant. Learn more.
The Montana STEP grant also funds the ExportMontana-hosted activities listed below. If you're interested in any of them, contact us for more information.
Montana pavilions at international trade shows:
Montana trade missions to:
- Brazil: April 2024
- India: May 2024
- United Kingdom: May 2024
- Norway and Sweden: June 2024
Montana's STEP grant is funded in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration. |
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Questions? Need international marketing assistance? Contact the ExportMontana team at the Montana Department of Commerce at COMMERCE.MT.GOV.
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