Case Study
Eight San Diego companies win $35K in grants via Export SBDC
ServiceExport/Logistics Consulting
ServiceEconomic Incentive Consulting
January 2023
The Export Small Business Development Center (SBDC), housed at World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD), helps small businesses secure funding for export promotion activity at no cost. One significant funding opportunity for San Diego exporters is SBA’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant.
THE CHALLENGE
In 2022, eight small businesses reached out to the Export SBDC at WTCSD for assistance starting and growing their international sales. Eyeing opportunities abroad, the companies hoped to find and secure economic incentives to fuel global expansion.
EDC SOLUTION AND SUPPORT PROVIDED
Export SBDC advisor and international trade expert Simona Racek met with each company for initial counseling and identified the SBA’s STEP grant as a valuable export funding opportunity. Using the Getting to Global grant preparation tool she designed, Simona helped each company complete its export strategy and individual export promotion plan for the grant application.
VALUE DERIVED
With Export SBDC’s support, the eight San Diego-based companies were awarded a total of $35,000 in STEP grants during 2022.
This marked the second STEP grant for San Diego’s Health Innovation Products, the creator of the antimicrobial CopperFoot Mat and one of the eight awardees. Winning a total of $9,500 in STEP grants, the company used the funding to launch its international Amazon storefront and sell its product in Singapore and Australia. The grant also enabled Health Innovation Products to cover shipment fees for samples sent to target markets, and conduct pay-per-click advertising for its Amazon storefront.
“Through World Trade Center San Diego’s Export SBDC counseling, Health Innovation Products has won $9500 in STEP grants, which has been instrumental in launching our international Amazon storefront and expanding our sales to Singapore and Australia.”
—Shirin Dorin, founder and CEO, Health Innovation Products