Global NY Fund Grant Program

Global NY Fund Grant

Helps research teams and institutions for Global NY Fund Grant in artificial intelligence, manufacturing, and biotechnology.

The Global NY Fund Grant is a rolling reimbursement grant program administered by Empire State Development (ESD) to help New York-based small and mid-sized businesses start or expand their international export activities. ESD operates the program as part of its broader Global NY export assistance suite, which also includes the federally funded State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). The Fund Grant has no fixed application deadlines, accepting submissions continuously throughout the year.

Two distinct funding tiers exist. Companies may receive up to $25,000, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs, meaning applicants must cover the remaining 50% upfront before claiming reimbursement. Eligible expenses include trade shows, international marketing campaigns, and export consulting services. Nonprofits and Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) that provide export education or assistance services qualify for a higher ceiling of up to $100,000, with ESD reimbursing up to 75% of project costs. Only NY-based entities that demonstrate intent to enter or expand international markets are eligible; universities and research organizations are excluded.

Because the program is reimbursement-based, applicants must spend first and claim afterward, so upfront cash planning is essential. The companion STEP program—federally funded by the SBA and also administered by ESD, providing up to $10,000 per company per year across up to three activities—has exhausted its Round 11 allocation as of June 2025 and is currently accepting only waitlist applications. For the Fund Grant itself, applicants should submit directly to ESD's Global NY team and expect decisions on a rolling basis with no set cycle.