WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Wednesday aimed at strengthening American manufacturing through deeper interagency collaboration. The agreement is expected to streamline access to capital, workforce development programs, and federal contracting opportunities, particularly for small manufacturers, which comprise 98% of the sector.
The initiative is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to restore domestic industrial capacity and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. By linking SBA’s financing and procurement programs with DOL’s Registered Apprenticeship and workforce training systems, the partnership aims to align skilled labor supply with growing demand across U.S. manufacturing.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, this Administration is working tirelessly to restore America as the world’s manufacturing superpower,” said Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. She emphasized that the collaboration would expand hands-on training and Registered Apprenticeships “that will benefit both small and large manufacturers.”
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler echoed those goals, stating that small manufacturers are “spring-loaded for growth with the America First agenda.” She added, “I’m excited to work alongside Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to cultivate a pipeline of skilled workers and capital to support their growth in a powerful new era of Made in America.”
The MOU outlines plans for data-sharing and cross-training between the agencies. SBA will integrate DOL’s workforce infrastructure, including the Veterans Employment and Training Service, into its outreach to manufacturers, while DOL will receive guidance on SBA’s 7(a) and 504 loan programs that support industrial growth.
The agreement marks a strategic alignment of economic and labor policy designed to empower U.S.-based producers and prepare the American workforce for a resurgence in domestic manufacturing.
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