Am I Eligible for a Discount?
You may be eligible for reduced or fully-subsidized registration through your local Small Business Administration STEP program.
1. About the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant Program
The State Trade and Export Promotion Grant Program (STEP) is a 3-year pilot trade and export initiative to make matching-fund grants for states to assist “eligible small business concerns,” enter and succeed in the international marketplace. Services under the STEP Program are funded in part by SBA, but are provided to eligible small business concerns – or “STEP Clients” – by STEP grant recipients located in most states and territories, and the District of Columbia.
The program’s objectives are to increase the number of small businesses that are exporting, and to increase the value of exports for those small businesses that are currently exporting.
How to Find STEP State Service Providers
- Contact your local U.S. Commercial Service Office
- Visit the Small Business Administration STEP page for an interactive map that details award amounts, program descriptions, and points of contact for each state.
- Email the Trade Winds Asia team at tradewindsasia@trade.gov
2. Appalachian Regional Commission Discount
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is providing discounts of $1,000 off of a Trade Winds Mission Stop fee, or qualified companies can attend the Trade Winds Forum Only for $500 ( a $450 discount) for those located in an Appalachian county. Please ask your local International Trade Specialist if you qualify, or email leslie.drake@trade.gov
3. First Energy Subsidy
Qualified clients of First Energy Corporation may be eligible to receive up to $2,450 subsidy for a Trade Winds – Asia single mission stop option in any of the five markets included in Trade Winds, which includes the Trade Winds Forum in Seoul, Korea. Please ask your International Trade Specialist if you qualify, or email leslie.drake@trade.gov
