Department Of Commerce

Exhibiting at a wholesale domestic trade show can boost your sales, encourage key business connections and diversify your market. The Montana Trade Show Assistance Program grant can help fund your next domestic trade show exhibition through 50% reimbursement of your cost associated with the show, plus travel stipend.

Submit your application at least 15 days before the show.

Fill out the online application here.

Reimbursement

  • Reimbursement on 50% of trade show expenses, up to $2,500.
  • A travel stipend for one staff per company up to $500. Importers, in-country reps and distributors are NOT eligible for the stipend.
  • After you've applied, received notification of award and completed your activity, please submit the following to Commerce's Export MT division:
    • Reimbursement Request – due 45 days after the show
    • W9 form – due with reimbursement request
    • Copies of receipts of expenses
    • A picture of your booth

Eligible Expenses

  • Booth/space rental
  • Booth equipment, furniture, and carpeting rental
  • Booth utility costs
  • Promotional materials such as the product flyer specific to the show, booth signage, etc. 
  • Shipping, storage, drayage and show labor
  • Travel expenses such as airfare, mileage and hotel costs

Ineligible Expenses

  • Expenditures directly related to the operation of the business such as staff salaries, printing of generic business brochures and handouts, product samples, and general advertising not related to the sales/trade event
  • Meals, taxis, etc.

About the program

This program assists Montana based companies in exploring new domestic wholesale markets by encouraging first-time exhibition at new trade shows outside of the state. It is not only for companies new to trade show exhibition but can also be useful for established companies who are looking to exhibit at a show that they have never been to before. It is not intended for a company to use for a trade show at which it has previously or currently exhibits. The assistance comes in the form of 50% reimbursement of qualified and approved expenses for trade show exhibition up to a maximum of $3,000 (including bonus amounts).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  1. Private-sector, Montana based company providing a Montana based product/service or adding value to a product in Montana*.
  2. Exhibiting at a "business-to-business" (wholesale) trade show outside of the state of Montana.
  3. First-time exhibition in the specified trade show.
  4. Presents documentation that the trade show or event is an appropriate venue for the company (include a link to the show's exhibitor information including past attendance statistics).
  5. The Montana Department of Commerce will make the final decision as to a company's eligibility for this program.

APPLICATION and REVIEW PROCESS

Potential participants must complete and return the Trade Show Assistance application** with required attachments 15 days prior to the first day of the trade show. A review panel, consisting of Department of Commerce staff will review applications. To be eligible for reimbursement, written or electronic approval from the Montana Department of Commerce must be received before attending the show. No applications will be considered after an event has occurred. **Applications from other programs for eligible expenses may be considered eligible for TSAP funds.

AWARD LIMITATIONS

This program is based on a 50% reimbursement of eligible expenses incurred during participation in an approved trade show. Funds are not disbursed until actual receipts are submitted after the event.
A company may receive one award per State of Montana fiscal year (July 1- June 30). The total individual award is limited to 50% of the actual eligible expenditures not to exceed a base amount $3,000 per company. The minimum amount is $500. All awards are dependent on funds available.

BONUS PROGRAM

Additional bonus monies are available if a business meets any of the criteria listed below. These bonus's will be used if your expenses alone don't reach the max of $3,000.

  1. Registered participant in the Made in Montana program = $200 or
  2. Listed with the Montana Office of Tourism = $200.

Contact the Export MT division if you have any questions about the Trade Show Assistance grant program.