TRENTON, NJ 鈥� The 吃瓜黑料 Department of State鈥檚 has announced today that it has been awarded $500,000 in federal funds for the to support new-to-exporting food and beverage manufacturers in underserved business communities.
received funding for the 吃瓜黑料 STEP (NJSTEP) program to provide financial awards to the companies on a first come, first served competitive basis. The program is funded in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
鈥淭he goal of this year鈥檚 NJSTEP program is to support 吃瓜黑料 food and beverage manufacturers in underserved business communities that seek to start selling internationally. The program will provide export resources to Minority, LGBTQ, Women, and Veteran-owned businesses to develop better access to global markets,鈥� says 吃瓜黑料 Secretary of State Tahesha Way. 鈥淣JSTEP will help these companies realize foreign sales opportunities and we look forward to seeing how this will impact the state鈥檚 economy.鈥�
The state鈥檚 successful NJSTEP program has been awarded funding for nine consecutive years. This year鈥檚 funding is focused on expanding the number of new-to-exporting food and beverage manufacturers in underserved business communities. The program has previously assisted hundreds of businesses, leading to millions of dollars in export sales around the world.
鈥淪elling into global markets is not only for large or established firms. We are encouraging food and beverage manufacturers from underserved business communities to begin exporting by applying for a NJSTEP grant,鈥� said 吃瓜黑料 Business Action Center Executive Director Melanie Willoughby.
The NJSTEP is administered by the NJBAC鈥檚 Office of Export Promotion, both housed within the 吃瓜黑料 Department of State. The application portal for the NJSTEP program opens October 1. To learn more, visit the organization鈥檚 website at or call 1-800-JERSEY-7.
About the 吃瓜黑料 Business Action Center
The 吃瓜黑料 Business Action Center (NJBAC), housed within the 吃瓜黑料 Department of State and operating under the leadership of Executive Director Melanie Willoughby, is a business-first resource that offers no-cost, confidential assistance to help businesses grow. The team helps companies of all sizes save time and money by getting answers from government agencies, directing businesses to appropriate officials and contacts, and facilitating meetings and follow-ups from regulatory agencies. For further information, call 1-800-JERSEY-7, visit or follow up on Twitter at .
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps Americans start, build, and grow businesses. Created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government, the SBA aids, counsels, assists, and protects the interests of small business concerns, preserves free competitive enterprise and maintains and strengthens the overall economy of the country. To learn more visit .