Individual Company Export Promotion Program
CA-STEP will provide direct financial assistance to eligible small businesses under the ICEP, by reimbursement of qualified, reasonable and necessary expenses for the selected export promotion activity. The ICEP program provides up to a maximum of $2,500 per company, per year, for a custom designed export promotion activity.
Step-by-step processes to receive direct financial assistance:
- Company must complete CA-STEP registration online at https://citd.org/register, and meet the eligible small business qualifications as required by the Self-representation form. Select “Individual Company Export Promotion(ICEP)” in the event drop down menu.
- Company must submit an executive summary (the registration web form will request you to upload an executive summary in Microsoft Word [.doc or .docx] or Adobe Acrobat [.pdf]) to CA-STEP about the export promotion activity they are requesting assistance with.
- Download, sign and then upload the SBA Eligible Small Business Concern document.
- Submit.
- Approved companies will be notified via email within 21 days of submission.
ICEP funds, if approved, can be used for the following:
- Costs of exhibition space at a trade exhibition
- Subscription to Gold Key services
- Marketing communications, including translated print or web, or interpretation services.
- Costs associated with shipment of samples to target market
- Set up fees for UPS’s “i-Global” or “i-Parcel” cross border on-line retail service
- Other non-travel related expenses necessary to implement activity, as per CA-STEP discretion, and subject to allow ability under federal cost accounting principles
Note: Travel expenses will NOT qualify for reimbursement
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY REQUIREMENTS
You must submit an executive summary (which you can download from the registration page citd.org/register) by providing answers in a Question and Answer format detailing the export opportunity and its potential impacts on your firm.
Please Note:
You must submit the ICEP registration and executive summary a minimum of 60 days prior to the planned activity. A minimum of 21 days is needed for evaluation, processing, and notification. If approved, reimbursement of requested expenses will take place after travel and/or activities have concluded. You will need to work with the CITD business advisor directly for further instructions on reimbursements.
ASSISTANCE
For assistance with your Registration and/or Executive Summary, contact your nearest CITD business advisor at citd.org.
Additional requirements and restrictions apply.
*Funds for the ICEP will be available on a first-come, first served basis until the budget is exhausted. The STEP program is funded in part through a grant award by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Funding is not an endorsement of any product, opinion, or service. No federal grant funds are being used for any entertainment costs associated with trade promotion or export marketing activities. All Federal and State funded programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Special arrangements for individuals with disability will be made if requested in advance.
