The Montana Department of Commerce announced that $900,000 of federal grant funding is available to help small Montana businesses accelerate and grow international sales. The U.S. Small Business Administration funding is administered through Commerce’s State Trade Expansion Program.

“Commerce’s STEP grant makes world-wide markets more accessible to Montana’s small businesses,” said Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “Since 2011, Commerce’s efforts through the STEP grant have produced a return on investment to Montana of $1.2 billion.”

The STEP grant will be used to support foreign trade missions, Montana pavilions at international trade shows and other international marketing projects. Since 2011, Montana has received $6.6 million in STEP grant funding from the SBA, matched it with $2.2 million in state funds, and awarded over 1,000 grants supporting 1,800 jobs.

Eligible Montana exporters can apply for 50 percent reimbursement of up to $10,000 for eligible marketing activities, like trade show exhibition, market research and U.S. commercial service programs and foreign language translation. Other eligible marketing activities include international compliance testing, intellectual property protection, digital marketing and travel stipends. Eligible applicants may receive up to $30,000 in STEP awards per year.