Small Business

SBA: Agency Clears VetCert Program Backlog to Put Veteran Entrepreneurs First

Agency Restores Statutory Staffing and Funding to Support Veteran Contracting Opportunities Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that the agency has cleared the Biden-era backlog of Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) applications, which accumulated after the prior Administration diverted all resources away from VetCert to increase certification approvals for “socially disadvantaged” small businesses within the 8(a) Business Development…

SBA: National Veterans Small Business Week Canceled Due to Federal Shutdown

Celebration Honoring America’s Heroes Canceled After Senate Democrats Block Clean Funding Bill Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that the agency’s 12th annual National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) celebration, originally scheduled for November 3-7, 2025, has been canceled due to the ongoing federal shutdown. The week-long recognition, which would have honored America’s 1.6 million veteran-owned small…

SBA: State-Level Analysis Released of Shutdown Impact on Small Business Lending

With Core Lending Programs Frozen, Agency is Unable to Deliver $170 Million to 320 Main Street Businesses Each Day Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration released a state-level analysis of how small businesses have been impacted by the federal shutdown, which has frozen the agency’s core 7(a) and 504 small business lending programs. For fiscal year 2025…

ICBA: ICBA Urges Policymakers to Continue to Support Local Communities Served by Community Development Financial Institutions

Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on actions to dismantle the Community Development Financial Institution Fund. “ICBA is concerned about the economic impact eliminating the CDFI Fund would have on the local communities that CDFIs serve. Hampering the work of CDFIs would threaten the financial…

SBA: Agency Delivers Record Capital to Small Businesses in FY25

America First agenda boosts small business optimism and growth Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it will close Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 with the most capital ever delivered to small businesses thanks to a surge in demand and confidence under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump. In total, the agency has guaranteed 84,400…

SBA: 12th Annual National Veterans Small Business Week Announced

Veteran Entrepreneurs to be Recognized November 3rd-7th, 2025 Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it will celebrate the 12th consecutive year of National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) from Nov. 3–7, 2025. The week honors America’s 1.6 million veteran-owned small businesses and the commitment to excellence, quality, and strength that defines veteran entrepreneurship across all sectors,…

White House: Office of Federal Procurement Policy and SBA Reinforce Small Business Participation in Federal Contracting

Today, the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Federal Procurement Policy and other members of the FAR Council, in close consultation with the Small Business Administration (SBA), released streamlined regulatory coverage on small business contracting.  Small businesses are the cornerstone of the U.S. economy.  The nation’s 34 million small businesses now account for well…

SBA: $1.1 Million Awarded to Support Made in America Manufacturing

E2G Grants will fund training for small manufacturers in critical industries Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it has awarded $1.1 million in grants to three applicant organizations who will provide training and technical assistance to support small manufacturers in the SBA’s Empower to Grow (E2G) Program. These qualified awardees will deliver regional support to small manufacturers in critical…

SBA: Loan Fees Waived for Small Manufacturers in Fiscal Year 2026

One-Year Waiver Incentivizes Return to Industrial Dominance Today, in support of the Trump Administration’s broader effort to rebuild American industrial dominance, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it would waive most upfront fees for small manufacturers in fiscal year 2026. With the fee burden reduced, the SBA will empower more small manufacturers (NAICS 31-33) with…

ICBA: ICBA Urges Congress to Ensure Deposit Insurance Reforms Enhance Small Business Coverage, Curb Favorable Too-Big-To-Fail Treatment

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today called on Congress to consider deposit insurance reforms that enhance coverage for small businesses, address the more favorable regulatory treatment the nation’s largest banks receive under the current framework, and ensure community banks are not penalized.  In a statement for the record for today’s Senate Banking Committee hearing on…