The Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program offers Illinois’ Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises financial and technical assistance to help grow their export sales.  The Group Trade Mission program offers companies financial and logistical support to attend trade shows as part of an organized Illinois delegation.  The Individual Foreign Market Sales Mission Program allows companies to receive financial assistance to participate in overseas trade shows and to attend matchmaking meetings with potential partners and agents.  The Product Compliance Certification Program offers businesses both financial and technical assistance to complete product compliance certifications required for exporting. 

STEP assistance will be provided on a first come, first served basis for all qualifying companies.  For additional information, please visit the STEP program website at http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/exports/Pages/STEP.aspx or contact Margo Markopoulos with the Illinois Office of Trade and Investment at Margo.Markopoulos@illinois.gov, phone 312-814-2319.

Office of Trade & Investment Programs & Services Brochure

Illinois in the International Marketplace

For information on our Trade Missions, Export Seminars, STEP Program and Illinois' Export Advisory Council, please visit http://exports.illinois.gov.

National Export Initiative
In President Obama’s State of the Union Address on January 27, 2010, he announced the National Export Initiative (NEI), a critical new effort that will lead to long-term, sustainable economic growth for the United States.  The President has a goal of doubling exports over the next five years, an increase that will support two million American jobs.  For the first time, the United States will have a government-wide export-promotion strategy with focused attention from the President and his Cabinet. 

Read more at:  http://trade.gov/nei/