The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) new administrator, Kelly Loeffler has rolled out the agency’s new Made in America Manufacturing Initiative to “restore American economic dominance and national security by empowering small manufacturers,” which she said supports President Trump’s agenda to create “good-paying jobs, secure our supply chains, promote fair trade, and bring back the blue-collar boom of his first Administration.”

About 99 percent of American manufacturers are small businesses. The Administration is claiming that the U.S. gained 10,000 manufacturing jobs during President Trump’s first month in office in 2025 after the U.S. lost an average of 9,000 manufacturing jobs per month in the final year of the Biden Administration.

“The great American comeback starts with restoring American industry,” Loeffler said. “With the Made in America Manufacturing Initiative, we’re slashing red tape, expanding access to capital, and fueling a manufacturing resurgence that will create high-paying jobs and revitalize communities across the country. By prioritizing American-made products, we’re not just securing our economic dominance — we’re protecting our national security by ensuring the essential goods we rely on are produced right here at home. SBA’s initiative is a promise to every hardworking American and small business owner: We’re putting American jobs and strength first.”

As part of the Made in America Manufacturing Initiative, the SBA will:

  • Cut $100 billion in regulation through the Office of Advocacy, empowered by law to work across federal agencies to identify and eliminate rules, policies and procedures that disproportionately burden small businesses and manufacturers.
  • Launch a Red Tape Hotline for small business owners and manufacturers to share feedback and submit onerous regulations for review.
  • Deploy the newly announced Office of Manufacturing and Trade to offer small manufacturers dedicated resources and training in partnership with SBA field offices across the country.
  • Reduce barriers to access for the 504 Loan Program, a zero-subsidy program that provides capital for real estate, construction and equipment purchases. Zero subsidy means the program operates without ongoing taxpayer funding and is sustained by borrower and lender fees.
  • Expand the use of the 7(a) Working Capital Pilot Program, which provides financing to fund inventory purchases and export-related expenses for international markets.
  • Promote a skilled manufacturing workforce by partnering with agencies, trade schools and private sector stakeholders to create a pipeline of skilled workers to support manufacturing.
  • Support President Trump’s manufacturing agenda, including tariffs to restore fair and reciprocal trade, tax cuts on domestic production, and 100 percent expensing retroactive to January 20, 2025, for manufacturers.

As part of the initiative, representatives from the newly announced Office of Manufacturing and Trade will embark on a multi-state Made in America Roadshow over the next two months, where they will hold roundtables to solicit feedback from small manufacturers nationwide.

Administrator Loeffler formally launched the Initiative and the Roadshow on March 10 at an aerospace and defense manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, Idiana, joined by state and federal leaders and small business owners in the manufacturing industry.

Image courtesy Open Market