The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently awarded 18 organizations in 17 states $8.9 million in Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program grants.
The program supports organizations that help small businesses overcome operational, technical, work force and market-access barriers that limit their ability to participate and grow as suppliers within strategically important industries. The program prioritizes advanced manufacturing, biotechnology and biomanufacturing, defense technologies and components, energy and critical materials, food and agriculture, and transportation, logistics, and industrial infrastructure.
“Thanks to the Administration’s commitment to Made in America, the Trump SBA is dedicated to strengthening our industrial capacity by delivering capital and resources to the small manufacturers that make up 98% of our manufacturing base,” SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. said “Through our focused SCALE awards, we are empowering innovative organizations to advise small manufacturers as they meet growing demand, expand and reshore production, and strengthen the critical supply chains that underpin American economic and national security.”
Beginning Sept. 30, awardees will receive up to $500,000 to counsel small manufacturers on expanding participation in strategically important supply chains, growing production, and solving for supply chain constraints. Awardees will provide the small manufacturers with accelerator programming, industry engagement, supplier matchmaking, and technical assistance.