SBA opens $50 million manufacturing training grant program in U.S.

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SBA $50M manufacturing grant

Highlights

SBA launches $50 million Manufacturing in America E2G Grant Initiative, funding regional programs that deliver free training and consulting for small manufacturers.
Applications for the grants—open to for-profit and nonprofit groups with at least three years' experience—must be submitted by June 15 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
SBA expands manufacturing support with a 90% Made in America loan guarantee, fee waivers for manufacturing NAICS codes in fiscal 2026, and new online supplier portal.

Grant scope and application timeline

As announced by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Manufacturing in America E2G Grant Initiative provides funding for organizations that will deliver regional support under the agency’s Empower to Grow program. The grants are intended to help small manufacturers access free business courses, hands-on instruction and one-on-one consulting tied to growth, operations, hiring, regulatory compliance and government contracting.

The SBA says eligible applicants can be for-profit or nonprofit entities, including small businesses, trade and professional associations, and educational institutions. Applicants must have existed continuously for at least three years, show experience in providing manufacturing-related training or technical assistance on a regional or national basis, and demonstrate capacity to deliver hands-on support to small business concerns.

Proposals must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by June 15 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. The agency is also hosting public webinars on May 11, May 27 and June 3 to explain the opportunity, with registration required through the provided links.

Push to expand domestic manufacturing support

The initiative targets sectors including aerospace, ship building, rail equipment, mining, industrial machinery, construction equipment, metal fabrication, electrical equipment, food processing, medical and precision manufacturing, advanced manufacturing and robotics. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler says the effort is designed to give small manufacturers the workforce and operational support needed to grow and reshore critical supply chains.

The new grants add to a wider SBA manufacturing agenda. The agency says small manufacturers account for 98% of all U.S. manufacturers, and it has recently introduced a 90% Made in America loan guarantee, waived loan fees for manufacturing NAICS codes in fiscal year 2026, created a dedicated loan program for American manufacturers and launched an online portal linking small businesses with more than one million domestic suppliers and producers.

Our earlier coverage of the $10 million spruce budworm prevention grant in Maine detailed how the U.S. Forest Service cleared funds for time-sensitive spraying and treatment ahead of a critical window. We noted the funding’s role in safeguarding Maine’s forest products industry, which supports about 30,000 jobs statewide, and how it adds to earlier supplemental appropriations aimed at reducing economic risks from the pest.

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