Colorado Awarded $480,000 Grant For Small Businesses

DENVER (CBS4) - Colorado is the recipient of a $480,000 grant to promote new exports targeting small businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) awarded the grant to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT).

The grant is part of the State Trade and Expansion Program (STEP). The funding will allow Colorado exporters to learn the basics of exporting, travel to an international sales trip or trade show and develop websites or international marketing campaigns.

Colorado officials plan to use the grant to organize nine trade shows to connect small businesses to international buyers.

These key industry shows include:

1. Medica in Düsseldorf, Germany from Nov 18- 21, 2019 (Apply now!)
2. Gulfood in Dubai, UAE from October 29-31, 2019
3. ANTAD in Guadalajara, Mexico in March 2020
4. JEC World in Paris, France from March 3-5, 2020
5. FHA in Singapore in March 2020
6. Hannover Messe in Hannover, Germany from April 20-4, 2020
7. FF Australia in Sydney, Australia in May 2020
8. AFB Trade Show (Fall 2020)
9. Solar Power International in Anaheim, California (September 2020)

Last year, Colorado's STEP awards helped over 50 small businesses across Colorado participate in trade shows in Munich, Germany; Mexico City, Mexico; Hannover, Germany and, Dusseldorf Germany.