export promotion financial award assistance program ......doing business with foreign purchasers,...

Office of International Commerce

& U.S. Commercial Service Export Promotion Financial Award Assistance Program

November 2017

Rachel Adams, International Trade Officer, OIC

Financial Assistance Award

Program 2017

• Funded through the STEP grant award with the U.S. Small Business Administration

• 1:1 matching funds program • Up to $6,000 in reimbursements

for eligible expenses • $151,495 allocated for the

program • Competitively scored and ranked

by 3-member review panel • **NEW to the STEP Grant - two

year grant period. Activities must occur between October 1, 2017 - September 29, 2019. Limited funds are available. All companies are required to submit quarterly progress reports for the entire two year period.**

Our Partners

Qualification

• Meet the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) definition of Small and

Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME). This SBA-funded program defines a SME as an

entity that:

o Complies with SBA size standards found at https://www.sba.gov/content/small-

business-size-standards and referenced at 13 C.F.R. Part 121;

o Has been in business for not less than the 1-year period ending on the date

on which assistance is provided under the Program;

o Is operating profitably, based on its operations in the US;

o Has demonstrated understanding of the costs associated with exporting and

doing business with foreign purchasers, including the costs of freight

forwarding, customs brokers, packing and shipping; and,

o Has a strategic plan for exporting in effect.

• 51% U.S.-content requirement.

• Funding allowance is limited to one (1) per qualified business per grant award.

To Be Eligible…

Qualifying Activities

The grant program is designed to provide flexibility and encourage innovative use of funds to meet the specific international needs of the New Hampshire exporter.

• Overseas trade mission participation (cannot be used in conjunction with a STEP-funded trade mission)

• Overseas trade show participation (cannot be used in conjunction with a STEP-funded trade show)

• Overseas promotional advertising • Domestic trade show participation

(International Buyer Program Trade Shows [IBP] only)

• Foreign market sales trip • Subscription to US Department of

Commerce (USDOC) services • Independent exporting and international

marketing consultant assistance

• Export and/or compliance training workshops for two employees

• Product certification that impacts the ability to sell internationally (e.g., CE MARK, CSA, ISO, REACH, CITRA, etc.)

• International marketing media design (brochure, website, etc.)

• Website, brochure, product labeling translation and customization for international markets

• Any other export promotion related activities, subject to approval

Qualifying Activities

Eligible Expenses

• Airfare* – Economy classes only, limited to one (1) person

per company • In the event two employees are needed for the

activity, applicants will be required to prove the economic impact of supporting two airfares

• Hotel ** – Accommodations only limited to one (1) person

per company. • In the event two employees are needed for the

activities, applications will be required to prove the economic impact of supporting two hotel rooms.

• Ground transportation related directly with international

travel • Translation / Interpreter Fee • Trade Mission / Trade Show fees, including but not limited

to: registration fee, booth fee, equipment rental, utilities and shipments

• Subscription to USDOC services (e.g., Gold Key, ICP,

Business Facilitation, Single Product Promotion, etc.)

• Independent consultant assistance (e.g., CE MARK, CSA, ISO, REACH, CITRA, etc.)

• Fees associated with export training, certification and

consulting

• Product registration / certification costs

• International marketing media development

• International advertisements (e.g., international printed

publications, websites, social media)

• Website internationalization (e.g., translation, SEO) not to exceed $3,000

• Fees for shipping sample products, not to exceed $2,000 (updated cap)

• Fees for compliance testing an existing product for entry into export market, not to exceed $2,000 (updated cap)

• Any other export promotion related expenses, subject to review

*If applying for reimbursement of airfare under the Program, company must comply with the federal government’s Airline Open Skies Agreements (aka Fly America Act) provisions. Please read through the provisions to fully understand the requirements found at: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/103191 N

OTE

Qualifying Expense Categories Are Restricted to the Following:

**If applying for reimbursement of hotel accommodations, a company can only submit invoices that contain only room rates, taxes and/or hotel fees. No amenities can be reflected on an invoice. This includes, but not limited to, food and beverage, internet, spa services, movies, fitness services or tourist activities.

Ineligible Expenses

Expense categories ineligible for reimbursement include, but are not limited to: • Activities that occur outside of grant period of October 1, 2017 - September 29,

2019 (two federal fiscal calendar years) • Airfare for classes other than Economy class • Hotel amenities, including but not limited to, food and beverage, internet, spa

services, movies, fitness activities or tourist activities • Expenses for more than one company employee per grant activity • Compensation, wages or salary of any employee of the grant recipient • Alcoholic beverages • Meals and incidentals • Lodging and hotel amenities • Phone and Internet usage • Phone Cards • Capital goods, product samples, giveaways and supplies • Any other ineligible expenses, subject to review Only itemized receipts with eligible expenses will be reimbursed.

Submitting Your Application • All grant applications must be submitted to the Office of International Commerce

via Granite State District Export Council website (www.nhexportassistance.com) by 3:00 p.m. EST, Friday, December 1, 2017

• No more than one (1) application per company. • No less than $1,000.00 in reimbursable expenses per application. • Financial assistance shall not exceed $6,000.00 per company as part of the export

promotion program of the State of NH’s STEP grant. • All successful applicants must provide quarterly progress reports from October 1, 2017

– September 29, 2019 (depending on the activity). • Note that once a company’s activity has concluded and the award money has

been issued, progress reports are still required to be submitted through September 29, 2019.

• All successful applicants must provide information regarding export successes, whether through joint ventures, actual sales, contract agreements, partnering with distributors/agents.

• Upload one document with all attachments (.PDF or .DOC). **Reminder: The STEP Grant is now a two-year grant. As a result, all successful grant activities reimbursements must be submitted within the next two Federal Fiscal Calendar Years, which takes place October 1, 2017 - September 29, 2019. Limited funds are available.

• Non-technical description

of your company

• Proposed trade activity

• Support to company’s

overall export growth

• Expected results

• Economic impact

• Budget

Attachment A

• All applications

must include a

signed Letter of

Commitment

• All applications

must include a

signed Media

Release Form

Attachments B & C

• All applications

must include a

signed SBA Eligible

Small Business

Concern form

• All applications

must include a

signed SBA Form

1624, Certification

Regarding

Debarment

Attachments D & E

• Reimbursements will be based on completion of activity/training and will required all itemized receipts be compiled in one submission.

• No partial packages will be accepted for reimbursement.

• Attachment F will be provided with Notice of Award.

• All reimbursements must be listed in the Reimbursement Form (Attachment F).

• No reimbursements will be issued without attachment F.

• Submit receipts and Attachment F online at www.nhexportassistance.com

Reimbursements

All receipts that are not in English need to be translated. Please provide a translation with your receipt and currency conversion.

• All applications for funding will be evaluated by the Grant Program Review Team using the following criteria: o Company Description (5 points)

o Project Description (35 points)

o Economic Impact (50 points)

o Project Budget (10 points)

• Only eligible applications that receive a score of 70 or higher will be approved for an award, subject to availability of funds (100 total points possible).

• Notifications to applicants will be communicated the week of December 11, 2017.

Review Process

OIC Export Promotion Programs: Export Expansion Fund (EEF)

• The EEF provides funding

for companies to take

advantage of many

products aimed at helping

to grow business overseas

• Helps companies:

– Identify market partners

– Promote and brand their

product

– Obtain market research

– Vet sales inquires

– Attend Trade shows

Rachel Adams, International Trade Officer

Office of International Commerce | Division of Economic Development

New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development

172 Pembroke Road

Concord NH 03301

P:+1-603-271-8444 | F:+1-603-271-6784

E: rachel.adams@livefree.nh.gov

Tina Kasim, Program Manager

Office of International Commerce | Division of Economic Development

New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development

172 Pembroke Road

Concord NH 03301

P:+1-603-271-8444 | F:+1-603-271-6784

E: tina.kasim@livefree.nh.gov

Justin Oslowski, Director

U.S. Department of Commerce | U.S. Commercial Service

80 Daniel Street, Room 104

Portsmouth, NH 03801

Tel: +1-603-610-2416 (direct) | Fax: +1-603-610-2418

Email: Justin.Oslowski@trade.gov

Contacts