SBA Empower to Grow Grant: A Detailed Guide for Manufacturers

Small businesses drive the U.S. economy. While manufacturing accounted for 9.5% of the gross domestic product in the third quarter of 2025, small enterprises employ nearly half the American workforce and represent 43.5% of the national GDP. These organizations are the backbone of domestic production and job creation. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched the Empower to Grow Program (E2G) to strengthen domestic supply chains, reshore jobs, and give U.S. manufacturing a competitive edge. This initiative offers a distinct grant opportunity for small manufacturers to lead the resurgence of American industry. 

Key Takeaways 

• The SBA’s E2G grant offers $50 million to support U.S. small manufacturers through hands-on, in-person training and technical assistance. 

• Eligible applicants can receive up to $5 million, with applications due by June 15, 2026. 

• Proposals must include a cover letter, technical proposal, budget details, and supporting documents like resumes, Single Audit Act reports, and/or audited financial statements. 

• The SBA will evaluate applications based on organizational experience, project management, project design,  the ability to reach target markets and utilize existing entities to extend the training program as far as possible 

• Grant recipients must use funds within 12 months, with contractor and consultant pay limited to 49% of the award. 

Grant Details & Objectives 

• Funding Opportunity Number: SB-GC7J-26–001 

• Application Deadline: June 15, 2026 

• Total Funding Available: $50 million (anticipated to be awarded across ten grants of $5 million each) 

Small businesses make up 99.9% of all U.S. businesses, underscoring their critical role in driving growth and innovation. The objective of this grant is to provide hands-on, in-person manufacturing training and technical assistance to eligible small businesses.  

Small manufacturers face complex challenges, from skills gaps and aging equipment to technology adoption and digital transformation. This grant targets organizations that deliver distinct, effective training programs to address these exact hurdles. 

Qualifying for the E2G Grant 

Meeting the small business definition is a fundamental requirement before competing for government set-aside contracts. Review the SBA table of small business size standards to confirm your eligibility status. 

Application & Submission Requirements 

The application requires a cover letter, technical proposal, budget information, certifications, forms, assurances, attachments, and exhibits. 

Cover Letter 

The cover letter sets the tone for your application. Including all required information is a simple but critical step. Provide the following details: 

• Statement referencing Funding Opportunity No. GCBD-7j-2026–01 

• Applicant name and address 

• Applicant website address (if applicable) 

• Name, telephone number, and email address for the designated point of contact 

• Discussion of eligibility as outlined in the funding opportunity 

• Dollar amount of the requested grant award 

Technical Proposal 

Limited to 15 pages, the technical proposal serves as the narrative blueprint for your project. The SBA evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed funds, giving preference to proposals that maximize outcomes. Include these critical components: 

• Description of your experience and present capacity to assist E2G eligible firms. 

• Breakdown of the hands-on, in-person training and technical assistance delivery methods. 

• Anticipated project goals, milestones, strategies, deliverables, and evaluation methods. 

• Identification of the project director, authorized organizational representatives, and key management personnel. Include resumes of up to two pages per employee. These do not count towards the 15-page limit. 

• Identification of contractors and consultants, along with the selection method. Contractor spending cannot exceed 49% of award funds. 

• An organizational chart specific to the proposed project. 

Budget Information 

Submit budget details via Standard Form 424 (Version 4), “Application for Federal Assistance.” You may use your own detailed budgeting worksheets if they include all the line elements of the standard form.  

Grant recipients must spend all funds within a 12-month period. Selected applicants will submit quarterly budget allocation documents that align with their technical proposal. 

Attachments & Exhibits 

Provide resumes, contracts, consulting agreements, and a cost policy statement. This statement must detail your general accounting policies, cost allocation methodology for salaries and wages, direct and indirect costs, and current grants.  

Submit three years of Single Audit Act reports or audited financial statements within 90 days of receiving the Notice of Award. 

Evaluation & Selection Criteria 

The SBA evaluates applications on a 100-point scale. Review will focus heavily on project design quality and organizational execution capability. 

• Organizational Experience & Capacity: The SBA seeks organizations with at least three years in business that can provide in-person, manufacturing-related training to E2G eligible firms. Demonstrate your expertise by detailing the number of companies you have trained and the tangible outcomes achieved, such as increased sales or secured contracts. 

• Project Management: Demonstrate your capacity to dedicate appropriate resources for one-on-one technical assistance. Establish clear lines of authority for managing the project. Confirm that you have sufficient access to facilities and physical resources to accomplish your objectives. 

• Project Design: Detail how your design maximizes grant funds to deliver services that lead to greater outcomes. Present a concise, cohesive narrative outlining your training metrics. Highlight your data collection methods and the quality controls in place to track progress and optimize fund utilization. 

• Ability to Reach Target Markets: Detail your capability to extend project services to eligible firms. Provide your marketing plan and demonstrate your experience reaching small manufacturing firms and their workforce within your region. 

• Collaboration and Resource Leveraging: Outline your strategy to leverage existing entities, such as SBA offices, federal agencies, trade associations, and private organizations, to expand the reach of your training program. 

Funding Structure & Review Process 

The SBA distributes these awards as grants, not federal contracts. The budget period lasts 12 months, requiring recipients to use all funds within one year strictly for the purposes outlined in the proposal. Contractor and consultant pay must not exceed 49% of the award funds. 

SBA employees or representatives from other federal agencies will review the applications. The SBA will notify all applicants in writing regarding their selection status. There are no debriefing sessions. 

Next Steps for Middle Market Companies 

Organizations should assess eligibility early and begin preparing application materials well ahead of the deadline. A strong submission requires clear alignment with SBA criteria, detailed planning, and coordination across teams. 

Wolf & Company’s Advisory team can support eligibility evaluation, proposal development, and budget structuring to strengthen your application.  

Contact us today to explore how this grant can support your broader growth strategy.