Governor Laura Kelly Applauds Department of Commerce State Trade Expansion Program Grant Award

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today applauded the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on its announcement of a $127,400 award being presented to the Kansas Department of Commerce’s International Division through SBA’s competitive State Trade Expansion Program (STEP).

“International business is a major economic driver for Kansas, and the work done by the Department of Commerce has created a significant advantage for our state in markets across the world,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I’m very pleased that the Small Business Administration has awarded our state this grant, which will support our ongoing efforts to recruit new businesses and bring good paying jobs to Kansas.”

The International Division at Commerce competed for this funding in order to support export growth among small businesses in Kansas. The award will allow Kansas to assist small businesses with vital information and other resources to succeed in export-related activities, including foreign trade missions and foreign market sales trips, obtaining services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessing expertise in designing international marketing campaigns and export trade show exhibits, participating in training workshops, and more.

“Governor Kelly has prioritized rebuilding Commerce’s International Division because we know that broadening the exporter base and increasing export values and volumes have a significant effect on our economy,” Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “The STEP program is essential in helping the Kansas Department of Commerce assist small businesses across the state as they strive to achieve their maximum potential on the global stage.”

Commerce’s International team will host a webinar about its services at 10 a.m. this Wednesday, September 30.

Click here to learn more about the upcoming webinar.

STEP awards are managed and provided at the local level by state government organizations. The program is managed at the national level by the SBA’s Office of International Trade (OIT). For more information about STEP program and other export resources provided by the SBA, visit the SBA’s business guide to exporting products.  

About SBA STEP Grants 

STEP is designed to help small businesses take advantage of these opportunities by increasing the number of small businesses that export, the value of their exports and the number of small businesses that explore significant new trade opportunities.  Expanding the base of small business exporters and streamlining the process is a key component of the Administration’s small business strategy.

Since the creation of the STEP program 10 years ago, SBA has awarded approximately $157 million in grants to fund export opportunities to increase the footprint of small businesses in countries all over the world.