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Export Programs & Grants

Whether it’s organizing trade missions to key international markets or connecting you to resources available for export growth, Global Tampa Bay is here to help you expand your markets and compete globally.

Trade missions are export programs for Tampa Bay based firms that want to explore and pursue export opportunities by meeting directly with potential clients in their markets. Global Tampa Bay (GTB) jointly coordinates high quality trade missions to targeted markets where Tampa Bay companies meet with 4-8 potential customers. GTB partners with the US Department of Commerce to facilitate one-on-one matchmaking meetings for exporters and helps to offset the cost to participants through state and local grant programs.

Export Grants

70% of all exporters have fewer than 20 employees. If you are one of these businesses, or would like to join in this growing trend, and you think you are too small to receive government sponsored export financing, think again!
Reimbursable Gold Key/Matchmaker Grants
Eligible small and medium-sized manufacturers and professional services providers can apply for a Reimbursable Gold Key/Matchmaker Grant to help them generate or increase export sales overseas. The grant serves as a market development tool for companies that are new-or-infrequent exporters by subsidizing the cost of meeting with prescreened and prequalified buyers, agents, importers, and representatives with an interest in their products or services.
SBA Export Express
  • Fast and Easy Loans for Small Exporters  Small business exporters are taking advantage of the world market and selling billions of dollars of goods and services overseas every year. In fact, 70% of all exporters have fewer than 20 employees. If you are one of these businesses, or would like to join in this growing trend, and you think you are too small to receive government sponsored export financing, think again!
  • Streamlined financing up to $500,000 SBA Export Express offers flexibility and ease of use to both borrowers and lenders. It is the simplest export loan product offered by the SBA and allows participating lenders to use their own forms, procedures and analyses. The SBA provides an answer in 36 hours or less.
  • Who is eligible to receive Export Express financing? Any business that has been in operation, although not necessarily in exporting, for at least 12 full months and can demonstrate that the loan proceeds will support its export development activity is eligible for Export Express.
Florida SBDC Network STEP Grant

October 2022 – September 2024 (2-year funding period)

The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) services provided by the Florida SBDC Network include funding that will be offered to eligible SBDC export clients as a reimbursement for costs incurred for trade show fees & related travel expenses, product sample shipments, export credit insurance fees, translation services, and company promotions/marketing plans. To get started, Contact Us.

Upcoming Trade Missions

Vancouver, BC

Past Trade Missions

Dominican Republic
Costa Rica
Brazil
Panama
Chile

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Export Programs & Grants

Global Tampa Bay partners with the US Department of Commerce to facilitate one-on-one matchmaking meetings for exporters and helps to offset the cost to participants through state and local grant programs. Contact us to learn more about our Export Trade Mission Application.