Business Oregon Export Promotion Grant (OTPP)

Business Oregon Export Promotion Grant (OTPP)

Funds Oregon small businesses with reimbursement grants of up to $7,500 for export-related activities including international trade shows and trade missions.

Eligibility · Oregon, United States

Business Oregon's Export Promotion Grant (Oregon Trade Promotion Program, OTPP) is a reimbursement grant administered by Business Oregon (Oregon's state economic development agency), funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). The current available funding is the state-only OTPP — federal STEP funds were fully allocated as of December 31, 2025 and are on hold. Grants reimburse eligible expenses after the activity occurs.

Grants are capped at $7,500 per company, with one grant per company allowed until further notice. Eligible expenses include trade show booth costs, international and domestic airfare (up to $1,500 per roundtrip for international), lodging per diem (50% reimbursement up to GSA rates), freight costs up to $2,000, ground transportation up to $350, and other approved export-related costs. Meals and incidentals are not reimbursable. Each annual funding term runs from October 1 through September 29.

Eligibility requires the applicant to be an Oregon small business meeting the U.S. SBA size definition (generally 500 or fewer employees), headquartered in Oregon with at least 50% of employees in Oregon, in business for at least one year, and promoting an Oregon-manufactured, -processed, or value-added product or service. The business must commit at least one full-time U.S.-based employee for the duration of the funded activity. Applications are processed first-come, first-served on a rolling basis until funds run out.

To apply: create an account on Business Oregon's Export Application Portal and submit the online application at least 60 days before the start of the activity. Required documents include SBA Self-Certification forms (Small Business and Debarment Certification) and the Oregon Small Business Survey. A Grant Agreement must be signed before any covered activity begins — retroactive coverage is not allowed. After the activity, submit an Immediate Performance Report (Exhibit A) and an Expense Detail Report (Exhibit B) with receipts within 30 days.

Key caveats: Travelers must use U.S. flag air carriers (Fly America Act). Frequent-flier-mile or loyalty-point purchases are not reimbursed. Federal STEP funding is currently on hold; only limited state OTPP funding is available.