Grant Proposals Due Date: August 5, 2022 at 12:00 PM

The New Jersey Department of State (“NJDOS”) is seeking proposals to award a two grants each for $5,000,000. One to develop and execute a business marketing initiative to highlight the benefits of doing business in the state of New Jersey and to encourage national and international business entities to relocate and expand in State. The grant period will run from September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023. This grant will be funded with State dollars.

The other is to develop and execute a business marketing initiative to highlight the benefits of doing business in the state of New Jersey and to encourage national and international business entities to relocate and expand in State as it relates to the COVID19 Pandemic and its recovery. This grant will be funded with Federal American Rescue Plan dollars. The grant period will run from date funds become available, to December 31, 2026.

The NJDOS is seeking these proposals from qualified New Jersey non-profit 501c3 entities specializing in state or international based economic development marketing, with demonstrated prior experience in working with other governmental or public entities for the purposes of business marketing.

Download the Grant Proposal Application

Through the SBA, the New Jersey Business Action Center received funding for the NJ STEP to provide financial awards on a first come, first served competitive basis, to domestic New Jersey eligible small businesses that are new to export, as well as those businesses who currently sell their goods and services to other countries.

For NJ STEP consideration, your business must be:

• Registered in, and domestic to, New Jersey
• Small as defined by the SBA
• In business for at least one year as of the date of the application
• NJ tax compliant
• Manufacturing goods or producing services that contain at least 51% U.S. content
• Registered with NJ START and have a DUNS number

Eligible businesses for the New Jersey State Trade Expansion Program will be considered to receive financial awards to partially offset export promotion costs such as the following:

• Website and e-commerce fees to attract international buyers
• Design of international marketing media
• Participation in international trade missions
• Participation in international and U.S. trade events
• Participation in Department of Commerce organized trade missions
• Fees for services provided by the U.S. Commercial Service (USCS)

How to apply for a NJ STEP Grant