Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program

The Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement Program is administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration through its Office of Investment and Innovation. Established under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, the program reflects the agency’s longstanding mission to support and strengthen small businesses across the United States. The SBA, founded in 1953, provides financial assistance, technical support, and policy leadership to help entrepreneurs succeed. Through this program, the agency extends its role beyond direct lending to funding intermediary organizations that provide technical assistance, training, and ecosystem support to small businesses and startups. The purpose of the program is to strengthen the participation of small businesses in strategically important supply chains by addressing operational, technical, and market access barriers. The initiative focuses on improving supplier readiness, enhancing production capacity, and expanding access to critical markets. It aims to accelerate supplier development while addressing systemic supply chain constraints such as bottlenecks, workforce limitations, and supplier gaps. The program emphasizes measurable outcomes including increased small business participation, improved production capabilities, and stronger coordination among industry stakeholders. Funding is intended to support organizations that deliver accelerator programming, technical assistance, and industry engagement activities. Eligible activities include supplier readiness assessments, workforce development, manufacturing modernization, technology deployment, and customer or supplier matchmaking. Funds must be used strictly for allowable costs under federal regulations and cannot be commingled with other funding sources. Organizations are prohibited from acting as pass-through entities or distributing grant funds directly to small businesses. Instead, funding supports programmatic activities that benefit small businesses indirectly through services and support structures. Eligibility is broad and includes public and private entities, for-profit organizations, nonprofit organizations, and institutions that can deliver relevant programming to small businesses within designated priority supply chains. Applicants must focus on one of several priority industries such as advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, defense industrial base technologies, energy and critical materials, food and agriculture systems, or transportation and logistics infrastructure. Organizations must also meet federal compliance requirements, including having no outstanding financial obligations to the government and maintaining good standing with federal regulations. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and include several required components. These include a cover letter, a technical proposal detailing the approach and organizational qualifications, supporting attachments such as resumes and agreements, budget documentation using standard federal forms, and certifications. The technical proposal must clearly define the supply chain challenge being addressed, outline the proposed solution and activities, and present measurable milestones and outcomes over a two-year project period. Applicants must also demonstrate organizational capacity, relevant experience, and data reporting capabilities. Proposals are evaluated based on technical approach and organizational qualifications, with a strong emphasis on the quality, feasibility, and impact of proposed activities. Review criteria include the clarity of the identified supply chain challenge, alignment of proposed programming with program goals, strength of partnerships, and the ability to deliver measurable results. Organizational experience, project management capability, and data reporting systems are also assessed. Applications are scored out of 100 points, and only those exceeding a minimum threshold are considered for funding. The funding opportunity opened on July 7, 2026, and applications must be submitted by August 7, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time. Awards are expected to begin on September 30, 2026, with a total project duration of 24 months. The program is structured as an annual funding opportunity, indicating recurring availability. Questions regarding the program can be directed to the SBA Office of Investment and Innovation via email or phone, and all submissions must adhere strictly to the requirements outlined in the official announcement.

Ensure strong alignment between identified supply chain challenges and proposed activities; provide measurable outcomes and clear milestones; demonstrate strong partnerships and organizational capacity