The U.S. Small Business Administration announced its 7(a) Working Capital Pilot (WCP) Program has generated more than $150 million in new lending since the program began, with more than $125 million of that total approved since President Trump took office last January.
The agency framed the milestone as evidence of renewed momentum in small-scale U.S. manufacturing, noting that small manufacturers account for the overwhelming majority of U.S. manufacturers and have been a primary beneficiary of the pilot.
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said the WCP is intended to help capital-intensive manufacturers access working capital to reshore supply chains, hire workers, and expand production. She positioned the pilot as part of a broader SBA push to increase access to capital, support onshoring, and advance deregulation as the Trump Administration seeks to “restore American industrial dominance.”
The SBA described WCP as a complement to its core 7(a) and 504 loan programs, designed to provide working capital options that support growth. According to the agency, small manufacturers account for more than 25% of the WCP portfolio. The SBA also highlighted how the WCP fits alongside other SBA offerings, including the Manufacturers’ Access to Revolving Credit (MARC) program.
The program includes two primary financing structures. Asset-based WCP loans allow businesses to borrow working capital secured by company assets to fund inventory and operating needs and to offer competitive sales terms. Transaction-based WCP financing is designed to fund specific projects or orders earlier in the sales cycle, including financing up to 100% of direct costs. The SBA said the pilot can also support both domestic and international orders through a single facility, helping firms pursue new markets.
The agency said updated program materials for fiscal year 2026, including a revised guide and a list of delegated lenders, are available on its website. The SBA also said lenders can access one-on-one counseling through its finance managers.
KEY QUOTES:
“Manufacturing is a growing but capital-intensive industry, which is why SBA’s Working Capital Pilot Program is playing a key role in empowering small firms to reshore their supply chains, hire American workers, and begin growing again after decades of bad trade deals that shipped U.S. jobs and industry overseas,”
Kelly Loeffler, Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration
“The WCP is one of many SBA initiatives tailored to support America’s 600,000 small manufacturers amid the Trump Administration’s work to restore American industrial dominance. The SBA will continue to expand access to capital, support onshoring, and pursue deregulation to drive economic growth, job creation, innovation, and national security.”
Kelly Loeffler, Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration
