AZ STEP PROGRAM
Funded in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and matching funds contributed by the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), the ACA runs Arizona’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). AZSTEP assists Arizona small businesses to enter export markets for the first time or to expand into new markets. This will enable these businesses (which account for 98% of the businesses in Arizona) to increase their revenues via international sales and to thereby be even more significant engines for job creation and economic growth in Arizona.
AZ STEP offers a number of services and tools to Arizona small businesses as they go global for the first time with their sales or enter new international markets.
The 2019 AZSTEP will assist Arizona small businesses (both urban and rural) to grow their revenues, diversify their buyer base and create more jobs by exporting their products and services to customers outside the USA.
AZSTEP initiatives include the following:
- International trade shows and expos
- B2B/B2G meetings events
- B2B/B2G trade missions
- ExporTech export education and export plan development
- ExporTech go-to-market initiatives
- U.S. Commercial Service export services
- Export compliance training
- Localization/translation of website content for international markets
AZSTEP entails dynamic collaboration with many public and private sector partners within the State of Arizona and also at the national level. These include the U.S. SBA, U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Assistance Center (USEAC), Arizona Small Business Development Center (AZSBDC) Network, U.S. Export-Import Bank, Arizona Technology Council (AZTC), Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Black Chamber of Commerce, Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency Business Center, Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, among many others.
As indicated, AZSTEP is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA’s funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
Companies wishing to participate in the Arizona STEP program should email Kevin J. O’Shea.
