The California State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) has two goals: Assist small businesses to begin to export, and help companies expand by exporting into new markets. Activities include support for qualified small businesses to participate in:
- International trade shows
- Trade missions
- Other export promotion activities
California STEP is administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GOBiz), supported by a statewide network of STEP Partners to implement a range of export promotion programs serving multiple sectors, including: Information & Telecommunications Technologies, Green Technologies, Aerospace and Defense, Food and Agricultural Products, California Lifestyle Products, Medical Equipment, Scientific Instrumentation, Transportation Equipment and Industrial Machinery.