WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2022 – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd) announced the House has passed a job-creating small-business bill that he introduced.
The STEP Improvement Act would reauthorize the Small Business Administration’s State Trade Expansion Program, which provides foreign trade assistance to small businesses, for four years. It would also improve the program in several ways, including creating a standardized application process and collecting performance metrics.
“In 2020, nearly 15,000 companies exported goods from Pennsylvania, of which 88 percent were small and medium-sized enterprises,” said Evans, a member of the House Small Business Committee.
“As a representative of Philadelphia, where nearly half of the population is African American, I am especially interested in finding ways to support minority entrepreneurs. Many minority-owned small businesses have a competitive advantage in conducting international business due to their cultural connections, multi-language skills, and close ties to the importing countries. STEP helps minority entrepreneurs gain access to the international marketplace, which allows their businesses to grow and thrive.”
Evans noted that STEP awarded Pennsylvania a $400,000 grant for fiscal year 2022 – “This will go a long way toward supporting small business across the commonwealth,” he said.
Evans urged the Senate to join the House in passing the bipartisan bill to reauthorize the program.
Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest, and Center City Philadelphia. During Evans’ first six years in Congress, his office has helped to return to or save more than $25 million for Philadelphians from federal agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration, and Department of Veterans Affairs. His website is evans.house.gov, and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
