SBA Announces First-Ever Critical Suppliers Prize Competition to Strengthen U.S. Manufacturing and Supply Chains

Competition Offers $20 Million in Capital to Small Businesses That Will Scale Domestic Production

WASHINGTON, Aug. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced its first-ever Critical Suppliers Prize Competition, a national contest to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and critical industry supply chains by expanding capacity at key chokepoints. The competition will award up to $20 million in non‑dilutive capital, including as many as six prizes with a maximum of $6 million each, to small businesses that demonstrate the capacity to rapidly scale domestic production through measurable, enduring supply chain solutions.

“For decades, bad policy hollowed out America’s industrial base and shifted our reliance toward foreign producers and fragile overseas supply chains. Thanks to President Trump, those days are over,” said Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “The Critical Suppliers Prize Competition will unleash promising solutions to supply‑chain vulnerabilities, bring capacity and jobs back home, and rebuild strategic sectors like advanced materials, metals, and energy production. By backing innovators to deliver at scale, the Trump SBA is targeting the critical industries that will anchor America’s economic strength and national security for decades to come.”

Contestants must have an aligned business strategy that provides tangible deliverables on one of the following critical industry supply chain priorities:

• Advanced Metals Manufacturing, including rapid tooling, precision casting and forging, heat treated components, strategic and critical minerals, and rare earth element recovery and magnet production.
• Advanced Materials Manufacturing, including large format additive manufacturing and materials transformation.
• Energy Systems, Energetics and Components, including nuclear energy, battery energy storage systems and standardization efforts.

Eligible competition contestants must meet the following criteria:

• Private entities or teams that meet SBA’s definition of a small business.
• Individuals submitting responses to this opportunity, including individuals representing organizations partnering with the small business applicant, must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who are at least 18 years of age at the time of their submission of an entry.
• An individual cannot belong to more than one entry in this competition.
• Contestants must be current and in good standing on any federal obligations.
• Contestants must be in good standing in the jurisdiction of their state of organization.
• Contestants must be an entity organized in and maintaining a primary place of business in the U.S. and/or its territories.
• Contestants must be profitable and demonstrate creditworthiness.
• Contestants must demonstrate the ability to deploy funds rapidly (within six months) and demonstrate the ability to achieve measurable increases in production or ability to implement a solution to support efficiencies in production to deliver near-term supply chain impact.
• All members of the senior management team of a contestant must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and over the age of 18.

The SBA has committed to rebuilding American supply chains and domestic manufacturing through a series of targeted initiatives. This year, the agency waived loan fees for manufacturing NAICS codes, established the first-ever loan program dedicated to American manufacturers, and modernized the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program so more private capital flows into critical, supply‑chain‑sensitive industries. The agency also announced a new 90% Made in America Loan Guarantee for small manufacturers and continues to promote existing programs such as the asset-based 7(a) Working Capital Pilot (WCP) Program. Through its ongoing Supplier Matchmaking Expo series and its Make Onshoring Great Again Portal, the agency has also played an active role in helping large companies source small suppliers to onshore supply chains across industries.

Contestants must submit proposals electronically to investinnovate@sba.gov. Proposals may be in the form of a company pitch deck. More information can be found at https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/priorities/sba-initiatives/critical-suppliers-prize-competition/. The deadline for submission is Aug. 21 by 11:59 p.m. ET. 
  

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

About SBA Office of Investment and Innovation

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) leads programs to support U.S. growth-oriented small businesses and startups. These programs provide access to capital, assistance, and networks to support the success of innovation-driven small businesses. OII’s work is bolstered by public-private partnerships that drive small business growth from idea to impact. To learn more, visit https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-locations/headquarters-offices/office-investment-innovation.

SBA HQ Press Team
U.S. Small Business Administration
press_office@sba.gov