State Trade Export Promotion (STEP)

  • Pure Michigan State Trade Export Promotion (STEP) program

    Michigan companies with fewer than 500 employees can now qualify for financial assistance for export-related activities.

    Launched by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), program is designed to:
    • Increase the number of Michigan companies that export
    • Introduce current exporters to new foreign markets and buyers.

    PROGRAM SUMMARY

    Direct reimbursements to qualified small and medium-size export (SME) companies may be available to develop or expand export-related activities through cost reimbursement of 50 percent of allowable export-related activities. 

    Eligible companies may qualify for up to $25,000 in assistance to enhance their ability to launch or grow export operations in Michigan.

    Approved funds may support (but are not limited to) the following activities:
    • Overseas trade mission participation
    • Overseas trade show participation
    • Foreign market sales trip
    • Subscription to U.S. Department of Commerce services
    • Foreign language translation services for export marketing materials and web site assets

    STEP Resources

    Get Started . . .

    Fill out this form to begin working with our Export Specialists. To reach a member of MEDC’s Export Team, e-mail export@michigan.org or contact Customer Assistance.

    Following your completion and submission of this intake form, your designate will be contacted by MEDC’s export team within five business days. At that time you will be notified that either:

    • Your company qualifies as either a Tier 1, 2 or 3 applicant. You will be provided with next steps based on your qualification Tier (See “STEP Eligibility Guidelines” for more information)
    • Your company does not qualify (with the rationale for that decision)
  • * = Required Fields
    First Name: *
    Middle Name/Initial:
    Last Name: *
    Title: *
    Company Name: *
    Address (of Michigan operations): *
     characters remaining
    P.O.BOX:
    City: *
    State of corporate headquarters: *
    Zip Code: *
     
    E-mail Address: *
    Telephone/Mobile: *
    ()- ext:
    Fax:
    Company Web site address:
    Preferred method of contact: *
    Employer Identification Number:*
    If you know the six-digit NAICS code for the product/service you have interest in exporting please add it here:
    Click here to connect to the Census web site resource of NAICS code classifications.
    Please describe your primary business product or service in two or three sentences:
     characters remaining
    Year your company was established:*
    Number of employees worldwide:*
    Number of Michigan employees:*
    Annual Sales: *
    Is your company’s product for export agriculture-based? (products that originate from farm, forest or land including crops, fruits, vegetables, wood, and minerals; and value-added products from crops, fruits, vegetables, wood and minerals). *
    Are you currently exporting any product or service? *
    If yes, to which countries? Please list all that apply.
     characters remaining
    What percentage of your annual total sales were exports in 2011? (or your most recent year.) *
    What were the annual gross export sales for your Michigan company in 2011? (or your most recent year.) *
    Please use this space for any additional notes you would like to include, or to post a question.
     characters remaining
    Are you currently in good standing with the Michigan Department of Treasury? *
    Does your company have a product or service that has been successfully sold in the domestic market? *
    Does your company have or is your company preparing an international marketing plan with defined goals and strategies? *
    Does your company have sufficient production capacity that can be committed to the export market? *
    Does your company have the financial resources to actively support the marketing of your products in the targeted overseas markets? *
    Is your company’s management committed to developing export markets and willing and able to dedicate staff, time and resources to the process? *
    Is your company committed to providing the same level of service given to your domestic customers? *
    Does your company have adequate knowledge in modifying product packaging and ingredients to meet foreign import regulations and cultural preferences? *
    Does your company have adequate knowledge in shipping its product overseas, such as identifying and selecting international freight forwarders and freight costing? *
    Does your company have adequate knowledge of export payment mechanisms, such as developing and negotiating letters of credit? *
    Verification (Type the words you see in the picture below)