Under 15 U.S.C. 649(l), the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) authorizes the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to make grants to States, and the equivalent thereof, to carry out projects that help develop exports by eligible small business concerns (ESBCs) (as defined in Section 8.1.5). The objective of STEP is to increase (1) the number of U.S. small businesses that export, (2) the dollar value of exports, and (3) the number of U.S. small businesses exploring significant new trade opportunities (as defined in 8.1.15).