Texas Economic Development & Tourism / Texas Department of Agriculture

Texas STEP Grant Program & Foreign-Trade Zone Guide (2026–2027)

Q: Do I need an active SAM.gov UEI before applying for a Texas STEP grant?

Yes. Texas requires an active SAM.gov Unique Entity ID (UEI) before submitting your Texas STEP grant application—a pending registration number is not sufficient. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for free SAM.gov entity validation before your application window closes.

Max Cap: $10,000 New-to-Export / $20,000 Market Expansion Match Rate: 75%

Baseline Eligibility Floor: Active SAM.gov UEI mandatory at application; Texas-based operations for 1+ year; SBA small business size standard; and ≥ 51% U.S. content across physical goods, connected hardware, SaaS, or U.S.-billed engineering services.

Calculate My Texas STEP Grant & Cash Float → Start My Custom TX 6-Step Export Plan → Official Texas Export Portal ↗ TX SBDC International Trade Center ↗

2026–2027 Reimbursable Caps & Sub-Limits

$10,000 max reimbursement for New-to-Export (NTE) Texas small businesses launching initial international sales.
$20,000 max reimbursement for Market Expansion (ME) exporters entering verified new foreign country markets.
75% standard reimbursement rate on pre-approved international trade shows, U.S. Commercial Service Gold Key ($3,250), compliance testing (CE/UKCA/ATEX), and website localization.

Texas Audit Traps (Read Before Spending)

Active SAM.gov UEI Before Applying: You must hold an active (not pending) SAM.gov UEI BEFORE submitting a Texas STEP application — allow 2–3 weeks for federal entity validation.
$20k Market Expansion Proof: Claiming the $20,000 tier requires documented proof of prior export revenue and entry into a distinct foreign country not previously served.
Fly America & Pre-Approval Audits: Paying booth deposits or airfare before written grant execution—or booking non-U.S.-flag carrier flights violating Fly America—voids reimbursement.

SAM.gov Anti-Spam Privacy Tip (TX): Toggle OFF "Public Display" inside SAM.gov Workspace → Entity Registration before submitting so third-party SAM-renewal scam mailers never harvest your Texas corporate filing. Want confidential 1-on-1 export readiness counseling first? Advisors at the Texas South-West SBDC International Trade Center (UTSA) operate under federal statutory non-disclosure (15 U.S.C. § 648(a)).

Industry Eligibility & Duty-Deferral Gateways

How Texas Industries Stack STEP Grants, SUSTA & Foreign-Trade Zones

Texas leads all 50 states in merchandise exports—spanning Gulf Coast energy & maritime equipment, USMCA cross-border manufacturing, precision ranch/crop AgTech, aerospace, and Austin/DFW/Houston enterprise software.

Eligible Expenses Across Manufacturing, Maritime/Energy, AgTech, SaaS & Engineering

Industrial, Energy, Maritime & Aerospace Hardware: Reimburses 75% of international trade show booths (ADIPEC, SMM Hamburg, Hannover Messe, Farnborough), ATA Carnet sample logistics, and ATEX / IECEx / CE / MED Wheelmark certifications.
AgTech Systems & Texas Food/Ag Producers: Precision livestock/irrigation hardware makers use Texas STEP for overseas distributor searches and RF testing, while physical Texas food, beef/poultry, cotton, pecan, and seafood exporters stack SUSTA 50% CostShare via the Texas Department of Agriculture on separate non-overlapping invoices.
B2B SaaS & Oilfield/Civil Engineering (≥ 51% U.S. Labor): Funds U.S. Commercial Service Gold Key matchmaking ($3,250), International Partner Search ($2,500 / $3,300), and Spanish/Portuguese/German localization without requiring physical cargo shipments.

Texas Foreign-Trade Zones (USMCA & Deepwater Duty Deferral)

Texas manufacturers and logistics hubs importing dutiable steel, electronics, valves, or sub-assemblies to fabricate or re-export to Mexico, Latin America, or Europe can defer duties—or eliminate them entirely upon export—across 4 flagship FTZs:

FTZ #84 — Port Houston Gulf Coast Petrochemical, Industrial & Machinery

FTZ #39 — Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Air Cargo, Electronics & Semiconductor

FTZ #62 — Port of Brownsville USMCA Heavy Manufacturing & Steel

FTZ #80 — City of San Antonio Inland Automotive & Aerospace Corridor

Texas Export Grant & FTZ FAQs

What is the maximum Texas STEP export grant for 2026–2027?

For 2026–2027, the Texas STEP Grant Program reimburses 75% of pre-approved international export expenses up to $10,000 for New-to-Export (NTE) small businesses and up to $20,000 for Market Expansion (ME) exporters entering verified new foreign country markets.

Do I need an active SAM.gov UEI before applying for a Texas STEP grant?

Yes. Texas requires an active SAM.gov Unique Entity ID (UEI) before submitting your Texas STEP grant application—a pending registration number is not sufficient. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for free SAM.gov entity validation before your application window closes.

What qualifies a Texas company for the $20,000 Market Expansion tier vs. $10,000 New-to-Export?

New-to-Export ($10,000 ceiling) covers Texas SBA small businesses with no significant export sales in the prior 12 months. Market Expansion ($20,000 ceiling) requires documented proof of prior international export revenue and a pre-approved export plan targeting a distinct new foreign country market.

Do Texas oilfield/maritime manufacturers, AgTech firms, SaaS companies, and engineering services qualify?

Yes. Any Texas-based SBA small business operating 1+ year with ≥ 51% U.S. content (across physical hardware, Gulf Coast maritime/energy machinery, AgTech systems, software engineering, or U.S.-billed technical services) qualifies for pre-approved overseas trade shows, U.S. Commercial Service Gold Key matchmaking ($3,250), compliance testing, and localization. Physical food, ag, seafood, and forestry producers can also stack SUSTA 50% CostShare on non-overlapping invoices.

Next Steps for Texas Exporters

Run Free Texas Export Calculators

Pre-Filled for Texas (75% Match · Up to $20k) Open Texas STEP Grant & Cash-Float Calculator → Model $10k NTE vs. $20k Market Expansion reimbursement, $3,250 Gold Key fees, and upfront working-capital float. Port Houston & Gulf Manifest Privacy CBP 19 CFR § 103.31 Ocean Manifest Confidentiality Letter → Redact your Port Houston, Corpus Christi, and Brownsville ocean Bills of Lading from public trade scrapers ($0 fee). MXN / EUR / CAD Margin & Tax Gross-Up Cross-Border FX, DDP & Withholding Tax Calculator → Eliminate 2.8% wire FX spreads and calculate Mexican/LATAM withholding tax gross-ups on SaaS & engineering contracts. EAR Dual-Use & Buyer Screening Consolidated Screening List & 50% Ownership Check → Screen foreign energy, industrial, and electronics buyers against BIS/OFAC 50% ownership rules with a PDF audit record.