Grant
Provincial
Active
STEP — Market Diversification Program (MDP)
Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP)
Maximum Funding
By STEP membership tier: Non-member 2 applications/yr to...
Ongoing — apply 45 days before each trade activity until March 31, 2028
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
50%
STEP — Market Diversification Program (MDP) provides up to By STEP membership tier: Non-member 2 applications/yr to $6,000; Pre-Market member 1 application/yr to $2,500; Regular member 3 applications/yr to $8,000; Premium member 4 applications/yr to $10,000. Reimbursement is 50% of eligible costs for an initial visit to a new market, or 30% for a return visit within 24 months with minimal/no sales or for non-exhibiting participation in a STEP-led mission. Minimum total expense of $1,000 per application. STEP's Market Diversification Program (MDP) reimburses Saskatchewan exporters 50% of eligible costs for initial market visits and trade show participation in non-U.S. international markets, and 30% for return visits within 24 months where minimal or no sales occurred, or for participating without exhibiting in a STEP-led mission with a trade show component. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Eligibility check
Can you win this grant?
Get your instant eligibility verdict plus a head start on the application. Free, no account needed.
Takes about 20 seconds. We use this program’s real eligibility rules.
Want your full match picture across 850+ programs? Take the 2-minute quiz →
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Free
Program Description
STEP's Market Diversification Program (MDP) reimburses Saskatchewan exporters 50% of eligible costs for initial market visits and trade show participation in non-U.S. international markets, and 30% for return visits within 24 months where minimal or no sales occurred, or for participating without exhibiting in a STEP-led mission with a trade show component. Annual caps and application counts run by membership tier: non-members 2 applications to $6,000; Pre-Market members 1 application to $2,500; Regular members 3 applications to $8,000; Premium members 4 applications to $10,000. Each application must include a minimum total expense of $1,000. Products or services must have at least 50% Saskatchewan content, and the program explicitly excludes U.S. activities — making it a forced diversification incentive for SK SMEs.
Eligibility Requirements
- Incorporated business, partnership or proprietorship based in Saskatchewan and registered federally or provincially for a minimum of two years — sole proprietorships and partnerships are expressly eligible
- Minimum annual sales of $25,000
- Must produce an exportable product or service with at least 50% Saskatchewan content
- Activity must be in a new international market OR a market where the company has had no or minimal sales in the past 24 months
- Each application must include a minimum total expense of $1,000
- Non-STEP members may apply only if exhibiting in a new market, and are not eligible to participate in STEP-led trade missions
- STEP Pre-Market members are eligible for funding solely for participation in trade events — expenses related to trade show booths or exhibiting are not covered
- Non-government, non-non-profit, non-broker, non-agent, non-distributor (producers only)
- Maximum 2 representatives' costs reimbursed per event, and all representatives must be full-time employees
- All invoices must be billed directly to the approved company or to the participating employees
- Must demonstrate clear economic benefit to Saskatchewan
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Friendly
Funding Details
- Amount
- By STEP membership tier: Non-member 2 applications/yr to $6,000; Pre-Market member 1 application/yr to $2,500; Regular member 3 applications/yr to $8,000; Premium member 4 applications/yr to $10,000. Reimbursement is 50% of eligible costs for an initial visit to a new market, or 30% for a return visit within 24 months with minimal/no sales or for non-exhibiting participation in a STEP-led mission. Minimum total expense of $1,000 per application.
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing — apply 45 days before each trade activity until March 31, 2028
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Low
Deadline
Mar 31, 2028
Approval
Entitlement
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
Premium
See your real odds on this program — and exactly what it takes to win it.
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win MDP
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-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
$19 covers this one program. $39/mo covers every program, plus the workspace that walks you through each application.
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Premium
Insider TipApply at least 45 days before your trade show — late applications are rejected with no exceptions.
Premium
See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.
Success Profile
Premium
See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.
Evaluation Criteria
Premium
See exactly what reviewers score on — so you know where to focus.
Don’t lose this one to a preventable rejection
Common rejection pitfalls, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
Paid grant writers quote $2,000–$5,000 per program. Premium covers all 850+ for $39/mo.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Premium
5 steps
6 docs
Application Steps
1
Confirm eligibility and plan your activity Verify your business meets the 2-year, $25,000 revenue, and 50% Saskatchewan content criteria. Confirm the target market is non-U.S. and qualifies as a new or minimal-sales market (for the 50% rate). Select a trade show or market visit at least 45 days in the future.
Required Documents 6
✓ Completed MDP application form (submitted 45+ days before activity)
✓ Trade show registration confirmation or mission itinerary
Eligible Expenses 8
Ineligible Expenses 12
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Premium
Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.
Applying for MDP? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Premium
3 partners
Compatible Programs
CanExport SMEs
STEP — Business Advisory Services Funding Program
AgriMarketing Program (Agriculture Canada)
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
None Risk
Premium
See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
How MDP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
Free
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP — Market Diversification Program... | By STEP membership tier:... | Easy | Reimbursement | Ongoing — apply 45 days... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Applications accepted... |
| STEP — Business Advisory Services Fun... | Up to $5,000 | Easy | Reimbursement | Ongoing — first-come,... |
| AgriMarketing Program — Core Stream | Up to $2,000,000 | Moderate | Reimbursement | No fixed deadline —... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Minimum $10 million contribution | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
Free
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about MDP
Free
What is the difference between the 50% and 30% reimbursement rates?
50% applies to an initial visit to a NEW market. 30% applies to a return visit to a new market within 24 months where minimal or no sales have occurred, or to participation WITHOUT exhibiting in a STEP-led mission with a trade show component. Exhibiting on a STEP-led mission to a new market is still 50%.
Is STEP membership required to apply?
No, but it changes both your cap and what you can do. Non-members get up to 2 applications and $6,000, and may apply only if they are exhibiting in a new market — they cannot join STEP-led trade missions. Pre-Market members get 1 application and $2,500 and are funded solely for participation in trade events, with booth and exhibiting costs excluded. Regular members get 3 applications and $8,000; Premium members get 4 and $10,000. If you attend 3+ events annually, membership typically pays for itself.
Do sole proprietors qualify?
Yes. An incorporated business, a partnership or a proprietorship based in Saskatchewan qualifies, as long as it has been registered federally or provincially for at least two years. Incorporation is not required.
What qualifies as '50% Saskatchewan content'?
Your exportable product or service must have at least 50% of its content (by value or production) originating from Saskatchewan. This could be Saskatchewan-grown ingredients, Saskatchewan-manufactured components, or Saskatchewan-based labour and services. Document your content calculation in case STEP audits your claim.
Can I claim costs for both employees attending a trade show?
Yes — eligible costs for up to 2 representatives (airfare, hotel, ground transport) can be claimed per event, but all representatives must be full-time employees and all invoices must be billed directly to the approved company or to the participating employees. Costs for a 3rd or more people are ineligible.
Is there a minimum claim?
Yes — each application must include a minimum total expense of $1,000, which is roughly $500 back at the 50% rate.
What happens if I apply less than 45 days before the event?
Applications submitted fewer than 45 days before the activity are rejected with no exceptions. If your event is coming up quickly, contact [email protected] to discuss your situation, but late applications are not generally accepted.
Browse More Funding
Full Playbook: MDP
5 steps · 6 docs · reviewer insights