Connecticut was fortunate enough to win a State Trade and Export Promotion, "STEP" grant, from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make it less expensive for small Connecticut companies to attend the Summit. It is in the form of a reimbursement to attendees who register and prepay. (The State doesn't require documentation to corroborate your information. You will be self-certifying.)
Only paid attendees can access the reimbursement registration site
How Does a Connecticut Company Apply?
1. It's easy! First you register to attend and pay the $595 attendee fee.
2. You receive a confirmation that will provide you with a link to the reimbursement website
3. You register on the reimbursement website and provide the information they request
4. The Dept of Economic and Community Development (DECD) will reimburse all eligible attendees who have prepaid
How Much is the Reimbursement?
A. $450 for Connecticut small businesses
B. $550 for Connecticut small businesses that are either veteran owned, minority owned, woman owned or are located in a rural area of Connecticut.
How Many People from One Company May Apply for the Reimbursement?
At the moment, there is no limit!
Who Are the Contacts at DECD if there are Questions?
Aaron Knight - 860-270-8059
aaron.knight@ct.gov
aaron.knight@ct.gov
Laura Jaworski - 860-270-8068
laura.jaworski@ct.gov
How Can Companies Ensure Eligibility for the $450 reimbursement?
Read the information below -- taken almost word for word from the reimbursement website:
1. You will be asked to self certify that: you have been in business for one year as of the conference date
2. You will be asked to self certify that: your company is operating profitably
Per Federal statute, companies that have not been in business for one year and/or are not operating profitably within the most recent fiscal year prior to the SBIR Summit are not eligible to receive STEP grant assistance for this event.
Per Federal statute, companies that have not been in business for one year and/or are not operating profitably within the most recent fiscal year prior to the SBIR Summit are not eligible to receive STEP grant assistance for this event.
3. You will be asked to self certify that: you understand the costs involved in exporting and doing business with foreign countries
4. You will be asked to self certify that: you have a strategic plan for exporting
5. In order to qualify you first must make sure your company is a Connecticut small business. For this, you will be asked for your NAICS code. If you don’t know your NAICS you can find it on this website:
6. You will be asked for the number of employees in your company, your gross export value per year
7. You will be asked to verify that your business qualifies as a small business in Connecticut: Verify NAICS
8. You will be asked to fill out and upload a standard form for the State, upload a W-9 form and upload a signed debarment form.
9. After the conference, you will be asked to complete a survey
Additional Reimbursement - $100
1. To receive an additional $100 you must also fit into at least one of the following categories:
- Headquartered in a rural town in Connecticut
- Veteran-owned company
- Minority-owned company
- Woman-owned business
Rural -- Towns/Cities that DO NOT Qualify as Rural:
| Ansonia |
| Bridgeport |
| Bristol |
| Danbury |
| Darien |
| Derby |
| East Hartford |
| East Haven |
| Hartford |
| Manchester |
| Meriden |
| Middletown |
| Milford |
| Naugatuck |
| New Britain |
| New Haven |
| New London |
| Newington |
| North Haven |
| Norwalk |
| Norwich |
| Orange |
| Shelton |
| Stamford |
| Storrs |
| Stratford |
| Torrington |
| Trumbull |
| Waterbury |
| Waterford |
| West Hartford |
| West Haven |
| Westport |
| Wethersfield |
| Windham |
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