The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is now accepting proposals for a new grant competition that will distribute up to $9 million to organizations helping small businesses strengthen domestic supply chains, the agency announced on July 23.
The Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program will award 20 grants of up to $500,000 over the course of two-years to help small businesses address supply chain constraints, increase production and expand participation in important supply chains.
“The Trump SBA is dedicated to strengthening our manufacturing base by supporting the capital and resources required to return to Made in America,” SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said. “The SBA’s SCALE Program offers targeted support to rebuild critical supply chains across our industrial base by empowering high‑potential domestic suppliers to meet new demand, reshore production, and put American workers and producers back in charge of the industries that keep our nation strong – from agriculture and energy to defense.”
Entities eligible for the grants include public or private organizations, nonprofits, and institutions that are capable of delivering accelerator programming, technical assistance, industry engagement or other services supporting small businesses in specific supply chains, namely: advanced manufacturing; biotechnology and biomanufacturing supply chains; defense industrial base technologies and components; energy, critical materials and industrial inputs; food supply and agricultural systems; and transportation, logistics and industrial infrastructure.
The SBA said pairing new programs like SCALE with expanded access to working capital and long-term investment vehicle reforms allows the agency to build toolkit for small businesses to support the country’s economic success as well as improve national security.