Hawaiʻi State Trade Expansion Program (HiSTEP)

The Hawaiʻi State Trade Expansion Program (HiSTEP), funded by the SBA, helps Hawaii small businesses boost exports and expand globally. Hawaiʻi State Trade Expansion Program (HiSTEP) What is HISTEP? ​ Funded in part through a Grant with the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Hawaiʻi State Trade Expansion Program, known as HiSTEP, is a comprehensive program designed to assist Hawaiʻi small businesses with their export development. The goal is to increase the number of small businesses that want to export as well as the value of exports for those small businesses that currently export. Today it is easier than ever for companies, regardless of size, to sell goods and services across the globe and this program can help achieve that. Federal Funding Disclosure – Hawai ʻ i State Trade Expansion Program In accordance with Section 632 of Public Law 117-328 Federal Share: 75% – $525,000 Non-Federal Share: 25% – $175,000 Total Program Cost: $700,000 Benefits Hawaiʻi is a small market, so growth is limited if businesses sell only locally 95% of world’s consumers are outside of the Exporting can help diversify the client base and grow Hawaiʻi companies To demonstrate the scale of export activity in Hawaiʻi, here is the updated total economic impact of exports for 2022 (not including tourism) – for each billion dollars of exports: Sales generated = $1.64 billion Household income generated = $400 million State taxes generated = $70 million Jobs (generated + retained) = 8,100 Success metrics for HiSTEP and our Hawaiʻi-based companies using HiSTEP include, but are not limited to: Total growth in overall export activity Increased export revenue Activation of more Hawai‘i-based companies Entering new overseas markets Eligibility Businesses must meet the following requirements to participate in HiSTEP: Meet the federal requirements of an Eligible Small Business Concern: Organized or incorporated and operating in the Meets SBA small business size standards One year in business Has access to sufficient resources to bear the costs associated with trade Must be an export-ready company seeking to export goods or services of origin or that has at least 51% content Certify that your company is not barred from receiving federal funds Be registered in good standing with the State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Business Registration Division at  vendors.ehawaii.gov Have a current general excise tax license with the State Department of Taxation Please note: Priority for selection to participate in the Hawaiʻi Pavilions (HiSTEP-HP) will be given to companies whose Hawaiʻi-made product meets the “Made in Hawaiʻi” designation as defined under Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Section 468-119, stipulating that the product will have at least 51% of the wholesale value added by production within the State. For service providers, the eligibility requirement is that the company be registered to do business in the State of Hawaiʻi and the service, although for a foreign market, is substantially performed in Hawaiʻi. How to Prepare Step 1 – Complete the Exporter Assessment For companies that may be unsure if they are export ready, please take the  exporter assessments  on the website of the International Trade Administration of the US Dept. of Commerce. There are step-by-step assessments for new exporters expanding exporters  and experienced exporters  that will help you determine next steps in your export development. Step 2 – Review the Exporting Checklist When first considering exporting, please review this  exporting checklist  to better understand how to structure your business. When you are ready for exporting, be sure to  register for HiSTEP receive consulting, attend seminars, and sign up for Hawaiʻi Pavilion trade shows. Step 3 – Review Exporting Resources and Past Seminar Videos