World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah) recently awarded funding to 38 Utah companies as part of the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). STEP is managed by WTC Utah and funded in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“The STEP Grant received a record number of applicants this year, making it the most competitive process to date,” said Derek B. Miller, president and CEO of WTC Utah. “We look forward to seeing how these companies grow internationally as a result of this funding.”
STEP Grants are cost reimbursement grants designed to help increase the number of small businesses that are exporting and help exporting companies grow. The grantees will use funding from the STEP Grant to participate in state-led trade shows and trade missions or to obtain export-related services like translation or website upgrades.
Grant applications were reviewed by a selection committee comprised of representatives from both the private and public sectors. Businesses receiving awards are located in both rural and urban areas.
The companies that received a STEP Grant included Applied Composite Technology Aerospace Inc., Beehive Distilling, BelaNature Organics, BEST Police Training LLC, BlueTree Farms, Buzz Graphics, Cath-Tip Inc., CommGap International Language Services, D-tect Systems. Dark Energy, Design Criteria Inc., DPS Skis, Global Uprising PBC dba Cotopaxi, GlobalSim Inc., Haight Bey & Associates, InnoSys Inc., Innovasis, Insta-Fire Inc., International Vibration Technology, M-Vac Systems and Maxtec.
Also receiving grants were Mercury Bikes LLC, MerkWares LLC, National Vinyl Products, Navitus Sustainable Industries, Optimum Composite Technologies LLC, Purple Innovations, Rainbow Sign & Design Inc. dba Decorworx, Reef Life Restoration/Vicon Nano Science, Spire Ranges, Summit Medical Products Inc., SyberJet Aircraft, TCR Composites, The Blueberry Hill, TruClinic, Vitalpax Inc., Wildland Forestry and Wyoming Test Fixtures Inc.
The State Trade Expansion Program is in its sixth year, but this is the first year WTC Utah is managing the grant through a contract with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Companies interested in applying for WTC Utah grants in the future can visit www.wtcutah.com for deadline updates.