S.C. Department of Commerce awarded Step grant

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The S.C. Department of Commerce has received a State Trade Expansion Program grant of $360,400, the full amount requested, from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

This is the eighth year the Commerce Department has received the grant. The Step grants support and encourage small-business exports in the state.

In 2014, the department established S.C. Opportunities for Promoting Exports. Between this program and Step, more than $123 million has been generated in export sales from S.C. companies selling products to 63 countries, according to a news release from the state Commerce Department.

“This is now nine consecutive years the Palmetto State has had a record year in total export sales,” Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt said in the release. “We understand that tremendous opportunities exist for our companies overseas, and we are grateful to the U.S. Small Business Administration for once again awarding our great state with this grant, which will allow us to support South Carolina businesses seeking to expand their reach to new markets around the globe.”

The grant funding reimburses a portion of business participation in upcoming trade missions to Australia, Taiwan, South Africa, Tanzania and Canada organized by the state Department of Commerce. More than 49 small and midsize businesses are expected to participate. The grant also assists businesses with participation in major trade exhibitions worldwide.

More than 84% of businesses that export in South Carolina are small businesses, accounting for 11.2% of the state’s exports, said Gregg White, district director for the SBA's S.C. District Office.

“The S.C. Department of Commerce has been very successful in using the SBA Step Grant to support small businesses that wish to tap into foreign markets,” White said.