Under 15 U.S.C.
§ 649(l), the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) authorizes SBA to make grants to States, and the equivalent thereof, to carry out projects that help develop exports by eligible small business concerns (ESBCs) (as defined in Section 8. 1. 5) .
The objective of
credit:
STEP is to increase (1) the number of U. S. small businesses that export, (2) the dollar value of exports, and (3) the number of U. S. small businesses exploring significant new trade opportunities (as defined in 8. 1. 15).