SBA seeks proposals for $9M SCALE supply-chain grants: Aug. 7 deadline
SBA is seeking proposals for $9 million in SCALE supply-chain grants, including about 20 awards up to $500,000. Deadline: Aug. 7, 4 p.m. ET.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened a new funding competition under the Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program. SBA says the $9 million effort will fund about 20 grant awards—each up to $500,000—over a 24-month period of performance, targeting gaps that keep small suppliers from scaling output in strategically important supply chains.
But the grant money is for organizations that can deliver accelerator programming and technical assistance—not for most small businesses to apply for directly.
What changed: SBA is now accepting proposals for SCALE grants
On July 23, 2026, SBA announced it is seeking proposals for the SCALE Program. SBA’s stated goal is to help small businesses address supply chain constraints, increase production, and expand participation in supply chains tied to national and economic priorities.
The competition is designed to support the “middle layer” around small firms—helping suppliers become more ready to meet demand through training, matchmaking, readiness assessments, and other commercialization-oriented support.
Funding basics: $9 million total, up to $500,000 per award
SBA says the SCALE Program includes a total of $9,000,000 in FY 2026 funding. SBA expects to make approximately 20 awards, with a maximum amount of up to $500,000 each, over a 24-month period of performance. The NOFO lists a project starting date of September 30, 2026.
This is not first-come, first-served funding for individual companies. The proposal process is for organizations that will run the two-year accelerator-style projects and report outcomes to SBA.
Which supply chains are prioritized
Applicants must focus on one of these SCALE industry supply chain priorities:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Supply Chains
- Defense Industrial Base Technologies and Components
- Energy, Critical Materials, and Industrial Inputs
- Food Supply and Agricultural Systems
- Transportation, Logistics, and Industrial Infrastructure
The NOFO says eligible activities can support a range of supply chain challenges and are not limited to a specific technology, product, or production process.
Who can apply—and what winning organizations are expected to do
SBA says eligible applicants include public or private entities, for-profit organizations, nonprofits, or institutions that intend to use funding to deliver accelerator programming, technical assistance, industry engagement, or related activities supporting small businesses operating in the selected priority supply chain areas.
In the NOFO, SBA describes small-business support programming as something the applicant should propose and staff to deliver. Activities may include:
- Accelerator programming
- Customer and supplier matchmaking
- Industry engagement activities
- Manufacturing modernization support
- Market access assistance
- Supplier readiness assessments
- Technical and workforce assistance
- Technology deployment support
The NOFO also restricts how the project can be run. Applicants may not serve as a pass-through or fiscal agent channeling award funds to other parties. Organizations can contract with third parties to provide services to support project goals, but the NOFO says applicants are not allowed to contract more than 49% of the work to other parties over the course of the project period.
Deadline and how to apply: Aug. 7, 2026 (4:00 p.m. ET)
SBA says proposals must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. The NOFO lists a closing date of August 7, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Proposals submitted after the deadline will be rejected without being evaluated.
What small businesses should do next
Small businesses looking to expand as suppliers should start identifying which accelerator or technical-assistance organizations could fit their industry, since those are the organizations competing to deliver the SCALE program’s two-year support.
After the Aug. 7 deadline, SBA will review and select recipients. Under the NOFO’s structure, the project period runs for 24 months, beginning September 30, 2026.
Sources
- SBA release (July 23, 2026): SCALE Program $9M grants competition
- SCALE FY26 NOFO PDF (SBA-OIIGA-26-001)
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