Get 50% back on international trade costs. Reimbursement up to $5,000 for Delaware small businesses with an approved export plan.
50% reimbursement up to $5000
Requires 45-day lead time
$20,000 lifetime funding cap
Covers website translation
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Sign in to save this grantThe Delaware COMPASS Grant currently offers small businesses a 50% reimbursement for international trade shows and website localization, provided you file an "Intent to Export" form at least 45 days before you spend a single dollar. I noticed that many owners miss out on thousands because they book their flights before seeking state approval. This program does not do retroactive checks. It functions as a state-level version of the federal STEP program, specifically designed to de-risk market entry for businesses that have been operating for at least one year.
Whether you are translating your technical manuals or renting booth space in Berlin, the state will cover up to $5,000 of the bill. Take the money. It is a shared-risk model that has already helped over a hundred local companies turn small overseas events into millions in new export sales.
Checking your Delaware operations against the state's specific W-2 and US-content rules is simple with the Grantaura eligibility tool. It cuts through the procedural noise. You can decide quickly if your current export plan is ready for review or if you need to refine your target market strategy first. Eligible businesses can trigger the application submission intake modal directly to start the pre-approval process. If your situation is borderline, especially regarding the 51% content rule, a live 1-on-1 video or phone call with a grant expert is the safer path. Ineligible companies are routed to our more grants section to find location-based or industry-specific alternatives.
You cannot simply go to a show and ask for the money afterward. The state requires that "Intent to Export" form to be approved six weeks before your activity begins. This creates a significant planning challenge. Owners are used to moving fast, but this window allows the state to verify that your activity aligns with their current strategic targets, like the European or South Korean markets.
If you are less than 45 days out, you might need an expert to evaluate if an expedited review is possible or if you should shift your focus to the next quarterly cycle. Retroactive funding is a myth here. If the receipt is dated before the approval, the claim is dead. Don't risk it.
Physical operations in the state mean more than just having a Delaware PO Box or a registered agent. You must have at least one W-2 employee physically working in a Delaware office to qualify, as 1099 contractors do not count toward this specific headcount requirement. The 51% US content rule is another frequent sticking point, especially for manufacturers with complex global supply chains. If your product is mostly assembled from foreign parts, the reviewers will dig into your value-added calculations. Service-based firms like architectural or technical consultancies also qualify, but you usually need to show a letter of intent or an existing contract to prove you are truly export-ready.
While the maximum award is $5,000 per activity, I observed that the average check issued last year was closer to $2,500. It is a reimbursement program, meaning you must have the cash flow to cover the full expense upfront before the state sends you 50% back. There is also a hard $20,000 lifetime funding cap per company. I've seen exporters "burn" their lifetime eligibility on small $500 translation projects, which is a strategic error if they plan to hit major international trade missions later. It is often smarter to save your COMPASS "bullets" for high-ticket items like booth space and airfare for new market entries.
One local manufacturer used this share-risk model to land a $100 million contract in Mexico after the grant covered part of their state-led trade mission meetings. Another bioscience firm in Newark reported $100,000 in new sales from a single trip. Because this is the Delaware version of the federal STEP grant, the state is focused on showing a high Return on Investment (ROI) for every dollar they reimburse. Your application needs to prove that their $5,000 investment will lead to measurable jobs or sales in the First State.
Actually getting your documents through the gate requires navigating the Delaware Identity System, which relies on Okta for multi-factor authentication. It is a technical dongle that can be annoying if you just want to upload a few receipts and move on. The portal has very specific intake rules: every file must be a PDF under 5MB, and filenames must be shorter than 50 characters. I've watched applicants get rejected simply because they named a file "Company_Export_Plan_2025_Version_Final_Final.pdf" and tripped the character limit. You will also need a current company W-9 and a narrative export plan limited to 2,500 characters of plain text.
Do not use bold, bullets, or italics in your narrative plan. The portal strips rich text formatting, which can turn a well-organized plan into a single, unreadable block of text for the reviewer.
Expert Tip
Applications are not just approved based on being first in line; they are weighted by a specific scoring rubric. The state evaluates your export plan feasibility at 40% and your market research depth at 20%. Budget realism is another 30%, which is why you must include specific vendor quotes rather than "estimated" costs in your initial submission. If your budget narrative is vague, the reviewers will assume your execution will be as well. The final 10% comes from your prior export experience, though being "New to Market" is often looked upon more favorably than just expanding in an existing territory.
Q: Can I use this for digital marketing?
A: Yes, digital marketing like SEO or PPC is covered, but only if it specifically targets a foreign domain like .co.uk or .de. You have to prove the primary audience is outside the US.
Q: Are business meals or "hospitality" expenses covered?
A: No. Meals, entertainment, and passport fees are strictly on the ineligibility list. The state wants to fund the activity, not the steak dinner after the show.
Q: How long does the reimbursement take?
A: Once you submit your "Reimbursement Request" and the mandatory "Impact Report" after the event, checks typically arrive in 4 to 6 weeks.
The eligibility gates for COMPASS are clear, but the technical and narrative friction is where Delaware owners usually lose their momentum. I've seen perfectly qualified manufacturers get rejected because of filename lengths or missing the 45-day intent window. We help you sequence your spending so you never risk your capital before the state signs off on the match. Our team reviews your 2,500-character narrative to ensure it hits the state's prioritized "New to Market" triggers while managing the technical Okta portal setup on your behalf. If the reimbursement math or the 51% content rule feels like a barrier, a live 1-on-1 video or phone call with a grant expert can clarify your specific path to approval.
I spend my days digging through state trade manuals and federal STEP guidelines so you don't have to navigate the bureaucracy alone. My goal is to make sure Delaware small businesses don't leave money on the table because of a technical portal error or a missed lead-time rule. You can find more of my research on funding in the First State here. If you're ready to take your brand global, you can reach out for a consultation to discuss your specific export plan.
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