Ready to Start?
To be eligible to receive financial assistance under the Tennessee STEP grant, companies are required to complete the following forms. Click here for a summary of the STEP Program Guidelines.
The forms are online in Jotform. Jotform is an online tool that allows us to collect applicant data securely and store it in an encrypted format.
Note on Evaluation & Reporting
Companies receiving grants agree to provide confidential information to document the successes achieved with the help of this grant through quarterly reports requesting information such as: number of leads received, business under negotiation and/or sales achieved and Tennessee jobs created or retained as a result of the trade activities for which funding was granted. The Tennessee Export Initiative is required by the SBA, as a condition of its funding for this program, to provide feedback on all activity in the form of progress reports collected quarterly from all STEP awardees through the end of the grant cycle period. Recipients of SBA grants acknowledge that their cooperation in this regard is a contingency of such funding.
If you have questions or need help, please contact TEI Director, Jeffrey Overby, TEI@belmont.edu.
Prepare
Prepare an Export Strategy and Plan. Review the Eligibility Criteria and Program Guidelines to ensure you are eligible for participation.
Await Notification
TEI will notify your company if it meets the eligibility and readiness requirements for the STEP grant program.
Apply
Submit your Tennessee STEP Application before the activity takes place and before the application deadline.
Await Notification
TEI will notify your company if it is approved for STEP grant funding.
Execute
Perform the pre-approved export activity and document participation.
Closeout
Submit the reimbursement request and share your outcomes with the TEI team.
Forms
Reimbursement Request
Funded in part through a Grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration