Michigan State Trade Expansion Program

MI-STEP, the Michigan State Trade Expansion Program, is MEDC's export reimbursement grant for Michigan small businesses that are ready to sell into international markets. It sits under the federal STEP framework but is run at the state level, so applicants work through Michigan's export support system rather than a federal call. The program runs on an annual cycle. The program reimburses up to $15,000 per business each year for export-related costs such as sales trips, trade shows, shipping product samples, compliance testing, and international marketing materials. It is an annual program for for-profit businesses based and operating in Michigan, and the grant pays back eligible costs after they are incurred rather than advancing cash. The best fit is a company with a real export plan, a destination market in view, and receipts it can document cleanly. Firms that can tie the request to near-term buyer outreach or channel entry usually have the clearest case, because the program is built to remove early international expansion costs rather than to fund broad operating budgets. It is most persuasive when the spend clearly leads to export activity in the current cycle and the business can show it is prepared to deliver abroad.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.