STEP U.S. Agri-Food Market Funding Program

Insider Tip

Four things decide this one. First, timing: the budget is fixed, adjudication is first-come first-served, and STEP stops accepting applications the moment funds are earmarked — the 45-day rule is the LATEST you may apply, not the best time. File early in the fiscal year. Second, your tier sets the economics before you plan anything: Pre-Market Members are capped at $1,000 and cannot claim booth or exhibiting costs at all, non-members get $2,000 on one application, Regular gets $4,000 across two, Premium gets $6,000 across two plus the ability to fund business development outside trade shows. You do not need to be a member to apply, but the gap between $2,000 and $6,000 is worth doing the arithmetic on. Third, exhibit rather than walk: joining a STEP-led mission with a trade show component but not exhibiting caps you at 30% instead of 50%. Fourth, the Saskatchewan-content rule is documentary, not rhetorical — you need the last substantial transformation to have happened in Saskatchewan AND at least 50% of direct production costs sourced there, so assemble that evidence before you apply rather than at claim time. Two traps worth naming: only two employees' travel and accommodation are eligible, and shipping covers the booth but never product or samples. Calendar the 21-day reimbursement window the day you get home — missing it means default and no payment on a trip you have already taken.

Rejection Pitfalls 12

• Program funds were already fully earmarked — STEP stops accepting applications at that point regardless of merit
• Application arrived later than 45 days before the trade show, event or mission, or was incomplete (late or incomplete applications are not processed)
• The product does not meet the 50% Saskatchewan content rule, or the last substantial transformation did not occur in Saskatchewan

Success Profile

A Saskatchewan agri-food producer or processor, at least two years old with $25,000-plus in annual sales, whose product genuinely originates in the province — last substantial transformation in Saskatchewan and at least half of direct production costs sourced there — taking a first run at a U.S. market it has never sold into. The program is deliberately small and tactical: it offsets the airfare, hotel, booth and registration costs of showing up at a U.S. trade show, not the cost of building a market-entry strategy. Premium and Regular Members get the most from it because they can claim exhibiting costs, file twice a year and reach $4,000–$6,000. Businesses headquartered outside the province can still qualify if 30% or more of revenue comes from Saskatchewan facilities.

Evaluation Criteria

An eligibility screen followed by a first-come, first-served queue against a fixed budget — not a comparative scoring exercise. STEP checks that the applicant produces an exportable product or service with at least 50% Saskatchewan content (last substantial transformation in Saskatchewan, and at least 50% of direct production or manufacturing costs sourced there), is an incorporated business, partnership or proprietorship registered federally or provincially and operating in Saskatchewan for at least two years, has at least $25,000 in annual sales, is in full compliance with government laws and regulations, and can produce a written trade strategy or export marketing plan on request. The activity itself must be new U.S. market development, delivered either by exhibiting at a trade show or event or by joining a STEP-led trade activity. Applicants must also demonstrate proof of impact — how the activity will contribute economic benefit to Saskatchewan through increased sales, exports or employment — and out-of-province applicants must show 30% or more of revenue comes from Saskatchewan facilities. STEP notes it also considers whether a broad number of sectors across Saskatchewan can benefit. Meeting every criterion does not guarantee assistance: funding availability is limited and applications stop being accepted once funds are earmarked.

Application Steps

Required Documents 10

Eligible Expenses 6

• Return economy airfare, or mileage at the provincial rate based on Google Maps distance, for up to two applicant employees
• Hotel accommodations for up to two employees, excluding incidentals
• On-ground local transportation, excluding personal or company vehicles
• Trade show booth space and standard booth furnishings — carpet, power, Wi-Fi, display case, table, chairs
• Trade show registration fees
• Shipping of trade show booth materials

Ineligible Expenses 9

• Flights purchased with points, business or first-class airfare, seat selection and travel insurance
• Online vacation or group packages, and any personal travel beyond the approved activity dates
• Timeshares and accommodations paid with points
• Parking expenses, and rental vehicles paid with points
• Memberships and sponsorship costs associated with trade shows
• Shipping of products or samples
• Printing of marketing materials
• Trade show booth and exhibiting costs, for STEP Pre-Market Members specifically
• Any cost already covered by other Canadian federal, provincial or municipal government funding

Intake Periods

Rolling intake against a fixed budget, tied to STEP's fiscal year (April 1 – March 31). Current funding covers activities between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2028. Applications must reach STEP at least 45 days before the trade show, trade event or trade mission, and are adjudicated first-come, first-served until funds are fully earmarked, at which point no further applications are accepted. Membership tier sets the number of applications allowed per fiscal year: one for Pre-Market Members and non-members, two for Regular and Premium Members.

Deadline Notes

There is no calendar deadline. The binding rule is relative to your event: a completed application must be submitted no later than 45 days prior to the proposed trade show, trade event or trade mission. Two other timing facts matter more than most applicants expect. First, the budget is fixed and applications are adjudicated first-come, first-served — STEP states that once program funds are fully earmarked it will not accept additional applications, so applying early in the fiscal year materially improves your odds, and meeting the eligibility criteria does not imply automatic access. Second, eligible activities must take place between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2028. After the activity you have 21 days to submit reimbursement documentation; missing that window puts you in default, eligibility is rescinded and no reimbursement is issued. Note also that your membership tier caps how many applications you may file in a fiscal year — one for Pre-Market and non-members, two for Regular and Premium.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

• Government entities and government employees
• Associations
• Educational institutions
• Not-for-profit organizations
• Brokers, agents and distributors
• Research institutions
• Non-agri-food exporters — these must apply to STEP's separate U.S. Market Funding Program
• Businesses operating in Saskatchewan for less than two years
• Businesses with annual sales under $25,000
• Businesses headquartered outside Saskatchewan generating under 30% of total revenue from Saskatchewan facilities
• Producers whose product carries less than 50% Saskatchewan content

Stacking partner data not yet available.

Clawback Risk

Low Risk

Because payment only happens after the activity and after documentation is accepted, there is little to recover afterwards. The equivalent exposure sits before payment: failing the documentation requirements or the 21-day submission deadline puts the applicant in default, eligibility is rescinded, and no reimbursement is issued at all — so the risk is the full unreimbursed cost of a trip already taken. STEP may also request an outcomes report up to six months after the applicant's return.