International Trade Center

ISTEP Program

​Illinois’ State Trade and Export Promotion (ISTEP) program provides Illinois’ small businesses with both financial and technical assistance to increase their exports. The ISTEP program includes four options for Illinois’ companies to grow their export sales: Group Trade Missions, Individual Foreign Market Sales Missions, Product Compliance and Website Localization.

ISTEP assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served ​basis for all qualifying companies.

Update: ISTEP funds may now be used to attend virtual trade shows. Eligible Illinois companies may apply for reimbursement of costs associated with participation in virtual trade shows up to $7,500.

Four ISTEP Options to Help Your Business Grow:

Group Trade Missions

Group Trade Missions are available to a limited number of companies. Qualified businesses will receive:

1. Financial assistance covering associated costs including trade show booth fees, group ground transportation, matchmaking fees, interpreters, briefing materials and assistance with travel logistics
2. Financial assistance for 25%-75% travel cost reimbursement, not to exceed $5,000 for travel per company
3. Partial travel reimbursement for two Illinois company representatives, including roundtrip economy class airfare on a U.S. carrier and standard hotel room 

Individual Foreign Market Sales Missions

Businesses may choose to undertake an Individual Foreign Market Sales Mission to arrange their own program rather than participate in Group Trade Missions.

Programs supported under an Individual Foreign Market Sales Mission include:

a) International Trade Shows and Conferences (which includes only basic turnkey booth and registration fee)
b) US Department of Commerce’s Gold Key and International Partner Search services
c) Business Matchmaking Services
d) Virtual Trade Shows
e) Domestic pre-qualified international trade shows occurring in the U.S.
f) Other non-duplicative export services necessary and pre-approved by DCEO-OTI to accomplish the Individual Foreign Market Sales Mission

Qualified businesses will receive:

1. Financial assistance for 25%-75% travel and program cost reimbursement, not to exceed $7,500 for travel per company.
2. Partial travel reimbursement for one Illinois company representative, including roundtrip economy class airfare on a U.S. carrier and standard hotel room.

Product Compliance Certification
 
Financial assistance is available to help Illinois’ small- and medium-sized businesses obtain compliance certification services for their products. This assistance is available for measures taken to comply with foreign regulations including those for agricultural products, ISO registration, and packing and recycling laws. Priority will be given for lab testing services to achieve product certification, such as CCC mark, CE mark, ISO 9001, ITAR, AS91 00, and ATEX. Qualified businesses will receive financial assistance for 50% of costs, not to exceed $6,000 per company

The International Trade Administration’s listing of certifications will be used as a guide. This list can be found on the International Trade Administration website.

Website Localization and E-Commerce

Financial assistance is available for website localization and e-commerce proposals which consists of website translation services, localization for foreign markets, search engine optimization payment functions, hosting, app integration, web services, and cybersecurity; for companies to increase opportunities for export success. Qualified businesses will receive financial assistance for 50% of costs, not to exceed $10,000 per company.

Is Your Business Eligible?

Illinois businesses must meet the following criteria:

1. An Illinois firm with either its headquarters and/or a substantial facility located within the State of Illinois.
2. A small firm as defined by the SBA i.e. less than 500 employees.
3. In operation for at least one year prior to the date of the trade mission or trade show (“Program”) in which the Business seeks to attend.
4. Profitable with gross annual revenue of at least $250,000 (a lesser annual revenue may be acceptable if in the opinion of DCEO-OTI the company substantially contributes to Illinois job creation and/or retention efforts.
5. Products and/or services must contain at least 51% U.S.A. and 25% Illinois content, or in the opinion of OTI, product and/or services substantially contribute to Illinois job creation/retention efforts.
6. The Business is not applying for or receiving any other Local, State, or Federal grant funds associated with export promotion assistance from any outside sources for the mission, compliance, or support, except for ExporTech program, for which this application requests funds from DCEO-OTI.

For complete details regarding the ISTEP Program, please visit this link or contact the International Trade Center at 618-650-3851 or International-Trade-Center@siue.edu