Oklahoma businesses looking to broaden their horizons will be pleased to know that the state's Department of Commerce has just snagged a tidy sum from the U.S. Small Business Administration. A cool $290,000 will be finding its way into the pockets of local companies aiming to boost their export game, part of the State Trade Expansion Program's grant initiative, as reported by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
This grant isn’t chump change by any stretch, it represents just a slice of the $1,718,600 that has been funneled into the state by the State Trade Expansion Program program since 2020, aiding a total of 135 Oklahoma small businesses to expand their exports. Leveraging these funds, companies can participate in a variety of activities, like jetting off on foreign trade missions, crafting international marketing campaigns, exhibiting at export trade shows, and attending workshops designed to give them an edge in the global marketplace, as reported by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
The significance of this funding isn't lost on those at the helm of the SBA. Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman pointed out the vast market opportunities that lie beyond U.S. borders. “With 95% of the world’s consumers based outside of the United States, our small businesses need access to markets abroad to grow and create good jobs in America,” Guzman said, highlighting the impact of tapping into international markets, as per the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. She adds that through "SBA’s STEP funding to states, small businesses can get grants to export to new markets and grow their revenues through marketing, trade missions and more.”
Oklahoma companies eager to seize this opportunity, won't have to wait. Applications are being accepted right now, and those interested in getting their slice of the international sales pie can hit up the Oklahoma Department of Commerce website for more details on how to apply for the State Trade Expansion Program grant. The chance to play in the big leagues of global trade may just be a few clicks away for Oklahoma's growth-minded entrepreneurs.
