Grant
Provincial
Active
STEP U.S. Market Funding Program
Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP)
Maximum Funding
50% of costs, up to $2.5K by tier
Apply at least 45 days before the trade show, trade event or trade mission — ...
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
New Program
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
50%
STEP U.S. Market Funding Program provides 50% of costs, up to $2.5K by tier. A temporary STEP program that reimburses up to 50% of eligible costs for STEP members developing a NEW U.S. market by exhibiting or walking a STEP-led trade activity. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Apply at least 45 days before the trade show, trade event or trade mission — first-come, first-served against a fixed budget.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
A temporary STEP program that reimburses up to 50% of eligible costs for STEP members developing a NEW U.S. market by exhibiting or walking a STEP-led trade activity. Annual caps are set by membership tier — $1,000 for Pre-Market Members, $2,500 for Regular and Premium Members — with one application per fiscal year and a minimum $1,000 of total expenses per application. Current funding covers activities between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027. The budget is fixed and applications are adjudicated first-come, first-served, so STEP stops accepting them once funds are fully earmarked.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a STEP (Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership) Member
- Be an incorporated business, partnership OR proprietorship registered federally or provincially — incorporation is not required, though proof of incorporation or supporting documentation may be requested
- Have operated in Saskatchewan for a minimum of two years
- Have minimum annual sales of $25,000
- Be in full compliance with all government laws and regulations
- Must be a new U.S. market development — a new market can be an entirely new country, region, or a new segment within an existing market
- Must be participating in a STEP-led trade activity to a new export market, either exhibiting or walking
- Must not have received funding from any previous STEP funding program to enter this market
- Be able to provide a written trade strategy or export marketing plan upon request
- Must demonstrate economic benefit to Saskatchewan, such as increased sales, exports or employment
- If not headquartered in Saskatchewan, 30% or more of total revenues must be generated from Saskatchewan facilities
- Each application must include a minimum total expense of $1,000 CAD, and only one application may be submitted per STEP fiscal year (April 1 – March 31)
- STEP Pre-Market Members are eligible for funding solely for participation in trade events — costs for trade show booths or exhibiting are not covered at that tier
- STEP Premium Members may also apply for eligible business development activities in prospective markets outside of trade shows and STEP-led missions, provided it is still new market development
- All representatives whose costs are claimed must be full-time employees, and all invoices must be billed directly to the approved company or the participating employees
- Applicants may not use other Canadian government funding — federal, provincial or municipal — to cover the same eligible costs
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Friendly
Funding Details
- Amount
- 50% of costs, up to $2.5K by tierNon-repayable contribution of up to 50% of approved eligible costs, reimbursed after the activity. Annual caps by membership tier: STEP Pre-Market Members up to $1,000 CAD; STEP Regular and Premium Members up to $2,500 CAD. One application per fiscal year, each with a minimum total expense of $1,000 CAD.
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Apply at least 45 days before the trade show, trade event or trade mission — first-come, first-served against a fixed budget
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
4/5
Accessible — straightforward requirements
Competition
3/5
Moderate competition — prepare a strong application
Difficulty
2/5
Easy — minimal documentation
Processing Time
Budget Trend
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipTwo things decide this one, and neither is the quality of your write-up.
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Rejection Pitfalls 10
- Program funds were already fully earmarked — STEP stops accepting applications at that point regardless of merit
+9 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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All 10 pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win STEP U.S. Market Funding Program
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 10 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 9-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 7-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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7 steps
9 docs
Application Steps
1
Confirm STEP membership and tier You must be a STEP Member to apply, and your tier sets both your cap and what you can claim: Pre-Market Members are capped at $1,000 and cannot claim booth or exhibiting costs, while Regular and Premium Members are capped at $2,500. Premium Members may also fund business development activities outside trade shows and STEP-led missions.
Required Documents 9
✓ Completed U.S. Market Funding Application (fillable PDF from the program page), submitted at least 45 days before the activity
✓ Proof of STEP membership and membership tier
Eligible Expenses 8
Ineligible Expenses 10
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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The full guide for this program also covers:
- 6 more application steps
- 7 more required documents
- 8 eligible expenses
- 10 ineligible expenses
- Intake periods
- Deadline notes
- Ineligible organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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3 partners
Compatible Programs
Other Canadian government funding (federal, provincial, municipal)
STEP U.S. Agri-Food Funding Program
Other STEP funding programs (e.g. Market Diversification Program)
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Low Risk
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How STEP U.S. Market Funding Program Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP U.S. Market Funding Program | up to $1,000 | Easy | Reimbursement | Apply at least 45 days... |
| PrairiesCan (Prairies Economic Develo... | Varies | Hard | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| PrairiesCan - Entrepreneurs with Disa... | Varies (Business Loans) | Moderate | Loan | Ongoing |
| SK Arts - Independent Artists Grant | Creation: $7,500 | Moderate | Lump Sum | Two deadlines a year,... |
| Saskatchewan Commercial Innovation In... | Varies (reduced CIT rate to 6%) | Hard | Reimbursement | Continuous intake —... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about STEP U.S. Market Funding Program
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Do I have to be incorporated to apply?
No. STEP accepts "an incorporated business, partnership or proprietorship registered federally or provincially and operating in Saskatchewan for a minimum of two years." You may be asked for proof of incorporation or other supporting documentation, but incorporation itself is not a condition.
How much can I actually get back?
Up to 50% of approved eligible costs, capped annually by tier: $1,000 for Pre-Market Members and $2,500 for Regular and Premium Members. Each application must cover at least $1,000 in total expenses, and only one application is allowed per fiscal year.
When do I need to apply?
No later than 45 days before the trade show, trade event or trade mission. Earlier is better: the budget is fixed and applications are adjudicated first-come, first-served, and STEP stops accepting them once program funds are fully earmarked.
Who is not eligible?
Government entities and employees, associations, educational institutions, not-for-profit organizations, brokers, agents, distributors and research institutions. Agri-value and agri-food companies must apply to STEP's separate U.S. Agri-Food Funding Program.
Can I use other government funding for the same trip?
Not for the same costs. Applicants may not use other Canadian federal, provincial or municipal funding to cover the same eligible expenses — travel, accommodation, on-ground transportation, trade show fees, shipping, translation or interpretation services.
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Full Playbook: STEP U.S. Market Funding Program
7 steps · 9 docs · reviewer insights