SBA Unveils New Loan Program for Small Manufacturers

By Amanda Beaulieu

America’s small manufacturers will soon have access to a new loan program designed to help create jobs and onshore production.

This week, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the launch of the Manufacturer’s Access to Revolving Credit (MARC) Loan Program, effective October 1.

According to an SBA news release, the agency’s first-ever loan program dedicated solely to small U.S. Manufacturers (NAICS 31-33), is built to cut through red tape and provide maximum flexibility, offering more options to meet businesses’ unique working capital needs.

“With 98% of American manufacturers classified as small businesses, the new MARC Loans represent a powerful source of targeted capital for those who are growing our nation’s production,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler.

In Connecticut, the majority of the state’s more than 4,500 manufacturers are small businesses, with 83% employing less than 100 people as reported in the 2024 Connecticut Manufacturing Report, produced by CBIA, CONNSTEP, and ReadyCT.

Connecticut’s manufacturing sector is a key driver of both the local and national economies. With over 157,000 employees as of August 2024, the industry contributes significantly to the state’s finances, generating $144 million in annual corporate taxes and $309 million in annual sales and use taxes.

Small manufacturers in Connecticut remain vital to the U.S. supply chain, producing many critical components essential to the Defense Industrial Base. In 2023, Connecticut was the fourth-highest state for U.S. Department of Defense spending, at $25.1 billion.

According to the SBA, the new MARC Program complements the SBA’s core 7(a) and 504 loan program, providing small manufacturers with a new source of liquidity and giving lenders maximum flexibility to structure working capital loans:

• MARC lines may be structured as either a revolving line of credit or term loan.
• The MARC is positioned to help growing manufacturers access flexible working capital as they scale their operations and take on new customers.
• Loan funds may be used for any short-term working capital need of the manufacturer, supporting everything from inventory purchases to new projects.
• MARC lines of credit can help manufacturers expand their working capital by leveraging the available equity of their existing facility or equipment.

“Thanks to the America First Agenda, we’re building again—and this working capital program will empower manufacturers to create jobs, supercharge growth, and reshore American industrial might,” said Loeffler.

In March 2025, the SBA announced its Made in America Manufacturing Initiative to help small manufacturers lead the nation’s industrial comeback and announced it was doubling the 7(a) and 504 loan limits for manufacturing.

This spring, the agency launched its Make Onshoring Great Again Portal to help small businesses connect with verified U.S. manufacturers, producers, and suppliers.

One avenue to access the platform is through the CONNEX Marketplace, an SBA-cosponsored matchmaking platform providing a searchable supply chain database.

Locally, CONNEX Connecticut, administered by CONNSTEP, is free to local manufacturers looking to find, be found, connect, and contract directly with each other.

Full details of the MARC Loan Program will be available on the SBA’s website.