[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 234 (Thursday, December 5, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66703-66704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26235]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


Information Collection for STEP Grant Program

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.

ACTION: 60-Day notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Small Business Administration (SBA) intends to request 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the 
collection of information described below. The Paperwork Reduction Act 
(PRA) of 1995 requires federal agencies to publish a notice in the 
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information 
before submission to OMB, and to allow 60 days for public comment in 
response to the notice. This notice complies with that requirement.

DATES: Submit comments on or before February 3, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments to James Parker, STEP Program Director, 
Office of International Trade, Small Business Administration, 409 3rd 
Street, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20416.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Parker, STEP Program Director, 
Office of International Trade, Small Business Administration, 
[email protected], 202-205-3644, or Curtis B. Rich, Management 
Analyst, 202-205-7030, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary objective of the STEP Client 
Report form is to collect data on the quarterly progress of grantees of 
the SBA's State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program. These data 
will be used to understand how states have improved their trade and 
export activities and revenue. The STEP program has two primary 
objectives: (1) Increase the number of small businesses that are 
exporting and (2) increase the value of exports for small businesses 
that are currently exporting. To achieve these objectives, SBA provides 
state-level grant recipients with funding for nine activities, 
including participation in foreign trade missions, design of marketing 
media, and trade show exhibitions.
    Data from the STEP Client Report will provide SBA with critical 
information about the impact of various strategies used to advance 
trade and export activities in each state. These data will also provide 
an understanding of the specific ways in which funded activities meet 
SBA's goal of improving small business trade and export productivity. 
These data may inform strategies that can be replicated by other small 
businesses. These data are not currently being collected elsewhere and 
are critical to understanding the outcomes of STEP grantee activities.

Solicitation of Public Comments

    SBA is requesting comments on (a) whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the agency to properly perform its 
functions; (b) whether the burden estimates are accurate; (c) whether 
there are ways to minimize the burden, including through the use of 
automated techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) 
whether there are ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information.

Summary of Information Collection

    Title: STEP Program Quarterly Client Reporting Form.
    Description of Respondents: State administrators in states that 
receive an SBA STEP grant.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 90.

[[Page 66704]]

    Total Estimated Annual Hour Burden: 360 hours.

Curtis Rich,
Management Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2019-26235 Filed 12-4-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8026-03-P