Georgia Export Grant FAQ

The Small Business Administration Office of International Trade is the federal agency that manages the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). 

These Georgia counties are eligible for SBA’s Small Business Community designation:
Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baldwin, Banks, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bleckley, Bulloch, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chattooga, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Early, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fannin, Franklin, Gilmer, Glascock, Gordon, Grady, Greene, Habersham, Hancock, Hart, Irwin, Jackson, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, Lumpkin, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Polk, Putnam, Quitman, Rabun, Randolph, Schley, Screven, Seminole, Stephens, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Towns, Treutlen, Troup, Turner, Union, Upson, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, White, Wilcox, Wilkes and Wilkinson.

Applications are accepted during each grant period, or until all grant funds are dispersed - whichever comes first.  

Georgia Export Grant makes funding available directly to small businesses through reimbursement after pre-approved export activities are completed. Approved companies are eligible for 75% of actual expenses, up to the maximum activity amount. Companies that want to extend their international marketing dollars are strongly encouraged to apply.

Companies may apply for a maximum of two (2) export activities per grant period. A separate application must be submitted for each export activity.

Yes, there is a maximum award amount per company for each grant period.

• International trade show booth costs
• International travel expenses for trade shows, trade missions and foreign buyer trips including airfare and lodging.  Only economy class airfare is reimbursable, and airfare must comply with Fly America guidelines
• U.S. Commercial Service programs and services 
• Website globalization costs and other fees associated with growing online business opportunities
• Design of marketing materials
• Export credit insurance premiums 
• ExportGA training course

Most companies are eligible for reimbursement of 75% of actual expenses, up to the maximum activity amount. Companies that represent underserved Small Business Communities, as defined by SBA, are eligible for 90% of actual expenses, up to the maximum allowed for that activity. Please see questions below for further details.

Small Business Communities include minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, and veteran-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. Additionally, companies located in 85 specific Georgia counties may also qualify for the Small Business Community designation. These companies are eligible for reimbursement of 90% of actual expenses, up to the maximum allowed for that activity.

Per SBA guidelines, companies must self-certify that they meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for Georgia Export Grant:

• Incorporated in the United States
• Operate in the state of Georgia
• Meet the SBA’s size standards for a Small Business Concern (typically 500 employees or less)
• In business for at least one (1) year at the time of application submission
• Must be an export-ready U.S. company seeking to export goods or services of U.S. origin or that have at least 51% U.S. content
• Have access to sufficient financial resources to bear the costs associated with trade, including the costs of packing, shipping, freight forwarding, and customs brokers

Companies must certify that their products or services are of U.S. origin or have at least 51% U.S. content in order to be eligible for Georgia Export Grant. In general, the definition of U.S. content for manufactured goods reflects the ex-factory price of a good minus the aggregate value contributed by non-U.S. or foreign sources. The definition of U.S. content for services is the contract value of a service minus the aggregate value contributed by non-U.S. or foreign sources. Please refer to the Application Guide for further details.

Per SBA guidelines, foreign-owned companies are not eligible for Georgia Export Grant.

Complete program details and application guidelines are available at https://georgia.org/georgia-export-grant

Yes! Complete program details and an application guidance document are available here.

No. Only electronic applications will be accepted.

Companies may apply for a maximum of two (2) export activities per grant with a maximum award amount per company. A separate application must be submitted for each export activity.

Only applications for export activities that occur during the grant period will be reviewed.

Once an application is submitted, an automatic email reply is sent indicating that the application has been received.  Successful applications will be funded on a first come, first served basis. The approval process is competitive; each application is carefully vetted and eligible companies are thoroughly evaluated by the program’s Review Committee. Companies that submit a strong, detailed and export focused application are more likely to be approved.

These forms are not required with the initial application. Once a company’s application is approved, a W9 and Vendor Management form will be required to complete the reimbursement paperwork. Reimbursement cannot be processed without these documents.