TL;DR: Per the SBA's May 6, 2026 announcement, the agency opened a $50 million Empower to Grow (E2G) grant initiative to fund up to 10 organizations delivering training and technical assistance to small manufacturers. The application deadline is June 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EDT via Grants.gov. NC small manufacturers cannot apply directly - the grants fund regional training providers - but NC manufacturers should align technology, cybersecurity, and CMMC roadmaps with the same regional support that the E2G grant builds. Paired with the new 90% Made in America loan guarantee and waived fees on manufacturing NAICS 7(a) loans, the federal funding window for NC manufacturers is the largest in agency history.
Key takeaway: E2G is a capacity-building grant for regional providers; the practical NC opportunity is on the downstream side. NC manufacturers should be loan-ready, technology-roadmap-ready, and CMMC-ready by mid-July so the regional support and SBA-backed financing line up.
Need a technology roadmap that aligns with the new SBA manufacturer programs? Contact Preferred Data Corporation at (336) 886-3282. Serving NC manufacturers since 1987.
What is the SBA $50 million Empower to Grow grant?
Per the SBA announcement, the Manufacturing in America E2G Grant Initiative directs up to $50 million across roughly 10 awardees who will deliver hands-on training and technical assistance to small manufacturers. The grant is the SBA's first dedicated capacity-building investment for small manufacturers and complements the broader Manufacturing in America strategy.
Key facts NC manufacturers need:
- Deadline. Proposals due June 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EDT via Grants.gov, per coverage from ROI-NJ and Globe Newswire.
- Who applies. Per the SBA, applicants must be for-profit or not-for-profit entities continuously in existence for at least three years, with regional or national experience providing technical assistance, tools, or training to small manufacturers.
- Who benefits. Small manufacturers nationwide in critical industries, with regional support delivered through awardees. NC manufacturers are likely to receive support through an awardee operating in the Southeast or Piedmont region.
- Companion programs. Per SelfEmployed.com's coverage, the SBA simultaneously rolled out a 90% Made in America loan guarantee and waived loan fees for manufacturing NAICS codes in FY2026.
For NC, the E2G grant is the upstream policy event. The downstream NC opportunity is two-part: regional E2G support for hands-on technical assistance, and the parallel SBA loan programs that finance the actual technology, equipment, and infrastructure.
Why does the E2G grant matter for NC small manufacturers?
Because NC's manufacturing base is one of the largest in the Southeast, and the gap between strategic intent and operational capacity is exactly what E2G is designed to close. Per the North Carolina Department of Commerce, manufacturing remains one of NC's top employment sectors, especially in the Piedmont Triad, Charlotte metro, and Western NC. Three NC-specific intersections:
| Federal program | What it funds | NC manufacturer opportunity |
|---|---|---|
| E2G $50M grant | Regional training and technical assistance providers | Hands-on help with OT/IT, cybersecurity, ERP, AI |
| 90% Made in America loan guarantee | SBA-backed lender exposure on manufacturer loans | Easier credit access for facility and equipment investment |
| Waived 7(a) fees on manufacturer NAICS | Lower borrowing cost for technology and working capital | Lower TCO on IT modernization financed under 7(a) |
| Combined 7(a)/504 to $10M (July 4, 2026) | $5M 7(a) + $5M 504 cumulative cap | Multi-year technology + facility transformation under one umbrella |
This is the largest stack of small-manufacturer-friendly federal programs in agency history. NC manufacturers that are loan-ready and technology-roadmap-ready in mid-June 2026 are positioned to compound the benefit across the Q3 and Q4 funding cycles.
Can NC manufacturers apply for the E2G grant directly?
In most cases, no. The E2G grant funds training and technical assistance providers, not the manufacturers themselves. Per the SBA's eligibility criteria, applicants must demonstrate three years of operating history and prior experience delivering manufacturer-focused training at regional or national scale.
That said, three NC implications:
- NC manufacturers should connect with NIST MEP partners now. Per the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, NC's existing MEP partners are exactly the type of regional intermediary likely to apply for E2G or to coordinate with awardees. Building the relationship before E2G awards land puts NC manufacturers at the front of the queue for hands-on support.
- NC industry associations may be sub-awardees. Manufacturing-focused chambers, trade associations, and community college workforce programs in the Piedmont Triad, Charlotte, and Research Triangle may participate as sub-awardees or partners.
- NC manufacturers can apply directly for the SBA loan side. The 90% Made in America guarantee, waived fees, and combined $10M cumulative cap (effective July 4, 2026) are direct programs NC manufacturers can pursue through SBA-preferred lenders today.
Quotable definition: The SBA Manufacturing in America Empower to Grow (E2G) Grant Initiative is a $50 million federal grant program, with proposals due June 15, 2026, that funds approximately 10 regional or national organizations to deliver hands-on training and technical assistance to small manufacturers in critical industries.
What should an NC manufacturer do this week?
Run a four-step plan that aligns technology, financing, and federal-program timing. The June 15 E2G deadline is the upstream trigger; NC manufacturer readiness through July 4 (SBA cumulative cap) and June 16 (CMMC framework date) is the actual opportunity.
- Build a 24-36 month technology roadmap (week 1-3). Document IT, cybersecurity, AI, ERP, and OT/IT integration investments with price tags, vendors, and measurable outcomes. The same roadmap supports the SBA loan and the E2G regional training intake.
- Map roadmap items to financing channels (week 3). Real estate and major equipment to 504, software/managed services/training/working capital to 7(a). Note where E2G regional support could provide hands-on assistance (workforce training, OT/IT integration, CMMC readiness).
- Open the conversation with an SBA-preferred lender (week 3-4). Per the SBA preferred lender program, preferred lenders can underwrite 7(a) and 504 in parallel and are already aligned to the waived-fees program and 90% guarantee.
- Connect with NC MEP, community college, and trade association partners (week 4). These are the most likely E2G sub-awardees or coordinators. Early relationships pay off after awards land.
Key takeaway: The E2G grant builds capacity in the support ecosystem. NC manufacturer readiness - documented roadmap, lender relationship, MEP/MEP-adjacent contact - converts that capacity into actual investment and growth.
How does CMMC and cybersecurity readiness fit the funding window?
For NC defense subcontractors, the CMMC 2.0 framework date of June 16, 2026 lands inside the same window as the E2G deadline and the July 4 SBA cumulative cap. Three intersections:
- CMMC readiness is 7(a)-eligible. Managed cybersecurity, segmentation, EDR/MDR, and assessment readiness all fit inside SBA 7(a) working-capital or term-loan structures.
- CMMC readiness is workforce training. E2G is explicitly a workforce and technical-assistance grant; cybersecurity training and tabletop exercises map directly to E2G-funded regional capacity.
- CMMC readiness is contract retention. The dollar value of an NC defense subcontractor's pipeline is the actual ROI on the cybersecurity investment, not a soft number.
For NC manufacturers in High Point, Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh, Winston-Salem, and the Piedmont Triad with any DoD exposure, the June 15 / June 16 / July 4 window is one continuous decision.
Need a CMMC and SBA-ready technology roadmap? Take our free cybersecurity assessment or call (336) 886-3282.
How is Preferred Data helping NC manufacturers use the SBA window?
PDC has built technology roadmaps for NC manufacturers since 1987. Three relevant services line up with the SBA manufacturer programs:
- AI Transformation: Multi-year AI roadmap with measurable productivity outcomes, governance baseline, and adoption KPIs that map directly to 7(a)-eligible spend.
- Managed IT Services: IT infrastructure assessment, modernization roadmap, vendor pricing, and TCO analysis - the documentation backbone of any SBA technology request.
- Cybersecurity Services: CMMC readiness, managed EDR/MDR, segmentation, and incident response - financeable inside 7(a) and trainable inside any E2G-funded regional program.
- OT/IT Integration: Plant-floor integration for NC manufacturers, the textbook E2G technical-assistance topic and a 7(a)-eligible technology spend.
For NC manufacturers in High Point, Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh, Winston-Salem, and the Piedmont Triad, the federal window through July 4, 2026 is the largest financial event for small manufacturers in a decade.
Ready to build the roadmap that takes to your SBA lender? Call (336) 886-3282 or book a roadmap session.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SBA Empower to Grow (E2G) grant?
Per the SBA's May 6, 2026 announcement, the Manufacturing in America E2G Grant Initiative is a $50 million federal grant funding up to 10 regional or national organizations to deliver hands-on training and technical assistance to small manufacturers in critical industries.
When is the E2G grant deadline?
The application deadline is June 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EDT, per coverage from Globe Newswire and ROI-NJ. Submissions are made via Grants.gov.
Can a single NC small manufacturer apply for the E2G grant?
In most cases no. The grant funds training providers, not individual manufacturers. NC small manufacturers benefit through the regional capacity the grant builds and can pursue SBA loan programs (7(a), 504, and the 90% Made in America guarantee) directly for technology and facility investment.
What is the 90% Made in America loan guarantee?
Per SelfEmployed.com's coverage, the SBA's FY2026 program raises the SBA-backed guarantee on qualifying manufacturer 7(a) loans to 90%, with waived loan fees for manufacturing NAICS codes. The result is lower lender risk and lower borrower cost for NC manufacturers funding technology and growth.
How does the E2G grant interact with the new $10 million SBA combined cap?
The E2G grant builds the regional training capacity that complements the July 4, 2026 SBA combined $10 million cap - $5 million 7(a) + $5 million 504. NC manufacturers can fund technology and facility investment inside the combined cap and receive hands-on technical assistance through regional E2G awardees.
What technology is SBA 7(a)-eligible for an NC manufacturer?
Per Biz2Credit's analysis, SBA 7(a) loans can finance AI software, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity tooling, ERP licenses, managed-service contracts, OT/IT integration, and working capital that supports technology adoption. Defense-relevant CMMC investments are also 7(a)-eligible.
Does Preferred Data help NC manufacturers prepare SBA loan packages?
PDC does not originate SBA loans, but we build the technology and AI roadmaps NC manufacturers take to their SBA-preferred lenders. The roadmap is the documentation backbone for the technology portion of a 7(a) request. Call (336) 886-3282 for a roadmap session.
Related Resources
- Managed IT Services for NC Manufacturers - IT modernization roadmap
- AI Transformation Services - AI roadmap for manufacturers
- Cybersecurity Services - CMMC and managed cybersecurity
- Manufacturing Industry Solutions - OT/IT integration and plant-floor modernization
- SBA $10M Combined 7(a)+504 July 4, 2026: NC SMB Tech Plan - Companion financing playbook
- AI for Main Street Act: 65% NC SMBs Fear Regulation 2026 - Federal AI policy context
- Contact Preferred Data Corporation - Technology roadmap session