Small manufacturers are the backbone of American industry, accounting for 98% of all manufacturers in the United States. Many of those businesses are owned by veterans, who have taken the discipline, leadership and mission-focused mindset they developed in uniform and applied it to manufacturing, engineering, logistics and advanced production. Now, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing a new opportunity to help those businesses grow.
SBA recently announced an enhanced version of its International Trade Loan (ITL) Program, introducing a new “Made in America Loan Guarantee” designed to help manufacturers expand operations, modernize facilities and strengthen domestic production. Beginning May 1, manufacturers in NAICS Sectors 31–33 will be eligible for loans with a 90% SBA guarantee, compared to the standard 75% guarantee typically offered through the SBA’s flagship 7(a) loan program.
That higher guarantee gives lenders greater confidence to invest in American manufacturers and provides small businesses with better access to the capital they need to compete, hire and grow.
For veteran-owned manufacturers, the new program can be a game-changer.
One example is KIHOMAC, an advanced engineering and manufacturing company founded by retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ki Ho Kang. With its main office in Reston, Va., KIHOMAC provides engineering, logistics, maintenance and manufacturing support for military and defense-related programs.
As the company expanded, SBA support played an important role in its continued growth. Through an SBA 504 loan, KIHOMAC was able to invest in facilities and infrastructure that supported its long-term expansion. Having access to capital helped KIHOMAC continue to create jobs, increase production capacity and strengthen its role in the aerospace and defense manufacturing sector.
The new Made in America Loan Guarantee could help companies like KIHOMAC take the next step even faster.
Another veteran-owned business that reflects the value of domestic production is Pinup Coffee Co., founded by Navy veteran Stephanie Wein.
Pinup Coffee Co. is a specialty coffee roaster that sells products online, locally and wholesale to coffee shops and cafes. After separating from the Navy in 2023, Wein was able to focus full-time on growing the business.
Through SBA resources and support from the Old Dominion University Veterans Business Outreach Center in Norfolk, Va., Pinup Coffee Co. developed a business plan and accelerated its growth.
While Pinup Coffee Co. operates in the food production industry rather than traditional manufacturing, SBA recently expanded ITL eligibility to include businesses across the food supply chain, including agriculture, production and logistics industries.
That means businesses like Pinup Coffee Co. may also benefit from the Made in America Loan Guarantee as they seek to increase production capacity, purchase equipment, strengthen inventory positions and grow their operations.
Eligible businesses can use the enhanced ITL funding to upgrade equipment, modernize facilities, diversify supply chains, strengthen inventory positions and expand operations.
For companies in manufacturing, engineering, food production, logistics and related industries, those investments are essential to staying competitive.
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler emphasized the importance of manufacturing to both economic growth and national security. A recent press release noted her unwavering support. “Industrial dominance is essential to our national security and strength,” Loeffler said in announcing the program. “Today, the SBA is taking another step to support reindustrialization with our new Made in America Loan Guarantee, which will give U.S. manufacturers additional financing to expand operations, modernize equipment and supercharge domestic production.”
The new loan guarantee is part of a broader SBA effort to support domestic manufacturing. The agency has already waived loan fees for small manufacturers in fiscal year 2026, launched its Made in America Manufacturing Initiative and introduced the Make Onshoring Great Again portal to help connect businesses with domestic suppliers.
For veteran entrepreneurs, these efforts create new opportunities to build businesses that not only succeed commercially but also contribute to America’s industrial strength. As veteran-owned companies like KIHOMAC and Pinup Coffee Co. continue to grow, SBA’s Made in America Loan Guarantee offers another tool to help them expand their impact and strengthen American manufacturing.
Ready to take the next step? Visit sba.gov/veterans and follow SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.