Nevada STEP Grant Application (STEP Year 9)

For questions about the application, please contact the GOED International Trade Division by email at nvstepgrant@diversifynevada.com.

Overview

The U.S. Small Business Administration State Trade Expansion (STEP) Program is an export initiative to assist small businesses to enter and succeed in the international marketplace. The program’s objectives are to increase the number of U.S. small businesses that export and to increase the value of exports by small businesses. To accomplish this objective, the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) will provide financial assistance to Nevada eligible small business concerns seeking to export their goods and services. As our nation's small businesses are facing an unprecedented economic disruption due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Nevada is taking steps to reopen the economy which involves assisting small, export ready businesses fund activities that will prepare them for when trade normalizes. U.S. Small Business Administration has adapted their regulations to encourage virtual tools in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while also allowing businesses to resume some international trade initiatives. This includes, but is not limited to: virtual service offerings, virtual trade shows, export research tools, online export trainings, etc. With the current economic climate, GOED aims to assist as many small businesses as possible and believes that opening the STEP application process on a rolling basis is important to meet this objective.

Instructions

Complete forms are required. This application and associated forms must be completed in their entirety to be considered eligible. Incomplete applications will be disqualified. You will be notified whether your company qualifies to receive a STEP grant once your application has been evaluated.

Company Information

Please included a copy of your current Nevada Business License or a copy of your SilverFlume Entity Information*

SilverFlume Entity Information from here.

Drop files here or

Accepted file types: pdf, jpg, png, word, Max. file size: 8 MB, Max. files: 2.

Company Name*

Full Name*

Title*

Phone Number*

Email*

Address*

Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

Has the company been in business in Nevada for at least a year?*

Yes

Estimated Number of Full-Time Employees in Nevada*

Six Digit Primary North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code*

Company Web Address*

Are your headquarters/offices located in Nevada?*

Yes

Please explain.

Select your industry sector.*

Check all that apply.

11 Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

21 Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction

22 Utilities

23 Construction

31-33 Manufacturing

42 Wholesale Trade

44-45 Retail Trade

48-49 Transportation and Warehousing

51 Information

52 Finance and Insurance

53 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

54 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

55 Management of Companies and Enterprises

56 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services

62 Health Care and Social Assistance

71 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

72 Accommodation and Food Services

81Other Services (except Public Administration)

92 Public Administration

Please describe your products/services.*

Please indicate if your company qualifies as one of the categories of disadvantaged business enterprises listed below.*

Check all that apply.

Rural
A rural area per the SBA is any area that is outside of a metropolitan statistical area with population below 50,000 plus adjacent territory does not have a high degree of social and economic integration as measured by commuting ties.

Woman Owned
Not less than 51% unconditionally and directly owned and controlled by one or more women who are United States citizens

Veteran/Disabled Veteran
A veteran is a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. Not less than 51% unconditionally and directly owned and controlled by one or more veterans who are U.S. citizens.

Socially and Economically Disadvantaged
Individuals who have been subjected or racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within American society because of their identities as members of groups and without regard to their individual qualities; whose ability to compete in the free enterprise system has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities as compared to others in the same or similar line of business who are not socially disadvantaged. The socially and economically disadvantaged individual must own not less than 51% of the firm. These include: Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian Americans.

Not Applicable

Are you an export ready U.S. company seeking to export goods or services of U.S. origin or have at least 51% U.S. content?*

If you are unable to answer, please do not continue, contact us at nvstepgrant@goed.nv.gov.

Yes

Market and Export Activity

Export Status*

New-to-export (NTE - have not exported before)

Market expansion (ME - have exported and looking to expand)

Does your company currently export to your target market?*

If you are NTE, please mark no.

Yes

Do you have the legal right to export the product/service?*

Yes

What are your annual exports?*

Not Exporting

Less than 25%

More than 25%

What are your annual sales?*

Less than $100,000

$100,000 to $1 million

More than $1 million

Please describe in detail your marketing and distribution plan in the U.S. and internationally?*

You may include a copy of your distribution, strategic, and/or marketing plan at your discretion.

Award Details

Are you a new STEP client?*

Yes

Please indicate when and how many times you received the STEP Grant.

Which country, or countries are you seeking to enter?*

DO NOT put general locations such as U.K. or Asia, list specific country/countries name.

If approved for the financial assistance award, what approved costs will you be utilizing?*

Check all that apply

U.S. Commercial Service services for exporters

Export Training

Export research tool subscription to assist with market research, including RAISE Rural America's Intelligence Service for Exporters

Registration fees (including virtual), standard booth space, standard build out for trade shows

Design and development of website with an international focus, website translation into foreign language, search engine optimization, localization services, webstore setup and/or maintenance costs, a mobile app integration/creation/update to support selling products, begin or refine ability to receive and/or process online payments and process orders, services related to eCommerce cybersecurity, translation of marketing media, including audio and video

Design of marketing media to promote products or services to reach target audiences including, but not limited to trade event publications, online and/or digital advertising for/or during trade event, posters/pamphlets/flyers for branding purposes, social media sales campaign, event website advertising and other online services from a show or show organizer, billboards/newspapers/banners/other print media, digital advertising format of any of the provided examples

Airfare & Baggage fees for up to two (2) company employees

Ground transportation fees

Parking

Lodging (based on U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) rates) for up to two (2) company employees

Currency exchange fees

Meeting space, audio/visual for a foreign market sales trip

Fees for shipping sample products

Compliance testing of an existing product for entry into an export market

Registration fees, booth space and travel for trade shows (including virtual and Trade Event Partnership Program).

Other (please state)

Other (please state)*

Amount Requested?*

Please enter a number from 0 to 0.

Name/Location/Type of Trade Activity.*

Name the trade show/event/activity you are participating in, e.g. “Germany Sales Trip”, “Website development to prepare of SEO”.

Date of Trade Activity.*

Description of Trade Activity.*

Provide a clear and concise explanation of trade activity, justification for activity, i.e. how it fits with your business plan and how it will lead to export sales.

Should you receive financial assistance from the STEP Grant, please state your goals/objectives?*

e.g. Find partner/agent to represent my products/services, raise my company’s profile with existing clients or partners by participating in a state led trade mission, etc.

Should you receive financial assistance, what is the State of Nevada’s estimated return on investment for the award of requested STEP grant funds:*

Creation of x new jobs, retention of x jobs, x international clients/investors engaged, etc. Please note, this statement is an estimate.

Terms and Conditions

I understand that this is a reimbursement grant and that I must be able to cover all upfront costs of the trade activity and certify that I have access to capital or can gain access to capital for all costs associated with my trade activity.*

Yes

I understand that if I am selected as a recipient of award funds, I will receive reimbursement for authorized funds after the activity is complete and all required original documentation has been submitted to the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development.*

Yes

I understand that project costs will only be reimbursed for documented expenses.*

All costs must be represented by original receipts, original cost invoices, and proofs of payments.

Yes

I will ensure that all reimbursement requests will be submitted no later than 30 days after activity end date.*

Yes

I agree to communicate with GOED the status of my activity and respond to GOED emails/phone calls. I also understand that should I fail to respond to GOED within two weeks from the request, my grant funding is liable to full rescission.*

Yes

I agree to provide post-trade event required metrics.*

Each grant is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The federal grant requires the State of Nevada to report all sales and job creation activity directly derived as a result of your participation in the STEP Grant. By checking yes, you agree to provide sales and job creating statistics directly derived as a result of your acceptance of the STEP Grant award and financial assistance, on a quarterly basis following the STEP Activity and 12 to 18 months after the performance period of the grant. All information provided is confidential.
Check only one.

Yes

Optional SBA Resources

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) would like to give you the opportunity to expand your knowledge of other programs offered. Would you like your company’s name and contact information to be shared with other programs?*

Yes

Signature and Certification Statement

I certify that the information provided in this application and all supporting documents are true and complete.

Signature*

Printed Name*

Title*

Company Name*

SELF-REPRESENTATION AS AN ‘ELIGIBLE SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN*

Download, fill and upload the document, please.

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Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 8 MB, Max. files: 1.

Debarment form*

Download, fill and upload the document, please.

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Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 8 MB, Max. files: 1.

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