Small businesses in California looking to export or are already in the export business are offered the opportunity to gain more profit through grant assistance by the California State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program. The trade and export initiative was launched under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (SBA) to help raise the value of exports and encourage the establishment of small businesses in the state.
In line with its primary goals, STEP grants are to be awarded to qualified small businesses in California that are planning to participate at SOURCING at MAGIC tradeshow, a much anticipated apparel sourcing event in North America. A Made in L.A. Pavilion for promoting the Los Angeles apparel manufacturing industry will be featured in the event. SOURCING at MAGIC will take place in Las Vegas on February 18-21, 2013.
The STEP grant was awarded to 47 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and District of Columbia. Under the program, SBA is authorized to grant up to $30 million to the states each year of the three-year pilot program.
California is entitled to grant funds amounting to up to $2.5 million. California STEP has been channeling the funds to conducting about 20 export promotion activities that include:
- Domestic and market-focused marketing campaigns
- Customized product/promotion localization assistance
- Matchmaking services between small businesses and potential customers
- Follow up support for firms in closing deals
As per the California STEP website:
The California State Trade and Export Promotion project leverages a statewide network of state, federal, private and non-profit trade promotion organizations to facilitate export promotion, activities, serving targeted industries, to drive exports for small businesses.
This network is unparalleled in experience and success; including four (4) Presidential “E-awards” for exporting, and six (6) successful U.S. Department of Commerce, Market Development Cooperator Awards over the past decade carrying out small business export promotion programs.
Managed by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Centers for International Trade Development (CITD), the network of STEP Partners implement a range of export promotion programs (20 trade missions and activities for 2011-2012) serving multiple sectors, including: Information & Telecommunications Technologies, Green Technologies, Food and Agricultural Products, California Lifestyle Products, Water Technologies, Scientific Instrumentation, Transportation Equipment and Industrial Machinery.
On a nationwide level, STEP grants are intended mainly to support small businesses in tradeshow exhibitions, participation in training opportunities, subscription to Department of Commerce services, website translation fees, and international marketing media design, on top of assistance for participation in foreign trade missions and other export initiatives.
Made in L.A. Pavilion
Los Angeles is the apparel manufacturing hub of the United States. Small businesses in the area can capitalize on the California STEP program to “illustrate to the world the depth, quality, expertise, and first-rate design of L.A. companies to attract leads and increase revenues.” The Made in L.A. Pavilion will give merchants the opportunity to meet thousands of major brands, labels, and private retailers face to face, attend complimentary seminars, and enjoy marketing and match-making benefits in line with the goals of the STEP program.
Businesses eligible for STEP grant funds will be given great discounts on booth space fees. Interested parties must comply with SBA size standards, be in business for not less than one year, and must be able to present a strategic plan for exporting. See SBA’s eligibility guidelines and register immediately. Additional discounts await early registrants.
The Made in L.A. Pavilion is a project by the Office of the Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles Regional Export Council for SOURCING at MAGIC. The bi-annual tradeshow draws thousands of attendees and exhibitors from the U.S. and abroad every year.
For more information, see contact details below:
Nicole Williams
Office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
(213) 473-9774
nicole.williams@lacity.org
Bob Berg
Director of International Business – Sourcing
(740) 755-8333
bberg@magiconline.com
www.magiconline.com/sourcing
Bronwen Madden, Acting Director
Center for International Trade Development
El Camino College Business Training Center
13430 Hawthorne Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250
Phone: 310-973-3175
bmadden@elcamino.edu