WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it has awarded $50 million in grants to 11 organizations that will provide training and technical assistance to support small manufacturers in SBA’s Empower to Grow(E2G) Program. The Manufacturing in America E2G Grant Initiative will enable these organizations to deliver hands-on training that builds technical proficiency, helping small manufacturers in critical industries strengthen America’s industrial dominance.
“As part of the Trump SBA’s efforts to support the return to Made in America, the agency is empowering 11 technical schools to offer training for small manufacturers to accelerate our nation’s industrial comeback,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler.“These new E2G manufacturing grants build on our existing programs for small manufacturers, which make up 98% of all producers in America, creating a powerful network of advisors to rebuild our industrial leadership across critical industries while supporting our national and economic security.”
Through E2G, eligible U.S. small businesses will receive a comprehensive package of free courses, practical workshops, and one-on-one advising designed to expand their operations, workforce, regulatory compliance, and competitiveness in government contracting.
The E2G Program manufacturing grant recipients are:
Fletcher Technical Community College
Geographic Scope: Southeast Louisiana shipbuilding corridor of Terrebonne, Lafourche, Assumption, St. Mary, Iberia, and St. Martin.
Total Proposed Budget: $4.99 million
Description of Training Services: Fletcher Technical Community College will provide hands-on, in-person technical bootcamps in the core shipbuilding trades of ship fitting, pipefitting, pipe welding, and marine electrical and build business-side capacity through hands-on, manufacturing-specific instruction in federal contracting, system registration, financial management, and capability development. Fletcher puts its existing manufacturing and business assets to work for the small firms that supply the region’s shipbuilding industry.
Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD)
Geographic Scope: Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek and Tama Counties
Total Proposed Budget: $5 million
Description of Training Services: IVCCD will provide hands-on, in-person training and technical assistance in robotics, automation, industrial software, advanced manufacturing, welding, machine tool competencies, industrial maintenance, and related workforce pathways, and will build on training already delivered through Iowa Valley Business and Community Solutions. It will also expand capacity through the Robotics and Automation AAS program launching at Marshalltown Community College (MCC) in the Fall, and will draw on MCC’s existing Advanced Manufacturing, welding, machine tool, and electromechanical instructional foundation.
Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC)
Geographic Scope: Lehigh, Carbon, and Schuylkill counties in eastern Pennsylvania
Total Proposed Budget: $1.43 million
