SBA initiatives
Learn how SBA initiatives help small businesses succeed and empower future leaders.
National Small Business Week (NSBW)
During National Small Business Week, SBA recognizes entrepreneurs and small business owners. This allows us to highlight outstanding impacts from all 50 states and U.S. territories.
More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business. Small businesses also create about two-thirds of annual new U.S. jobs.
Visit the National Small Business Week page for the latest news and events.
National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW)
Every Fall, SBA celebrates National Veterans Small Business Week. NVSBW recognizes veteran, service member and military spouse small business owners nationwide.
We highlight various aspects of the veteran business community. This includes aspiring and current business owners. We also highlight the organizations that provide training.
Visit our Veteran-owned businesses page for resources.
Small Business Saturday
Observed every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Small Business Saturday is a day to support small businesses. It also celebrates all they do for their communities.
White House HBCU Initiative
As a participating agency in the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), SBA continues to focus on the important role HBCUs play in our nation’s entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Council on Underserved Communities (CUC)
This council provides SBA with advice for strengthening small businesses in underserved communities. These include various communities across a range of populations. The communities may include inner cities and rural areas. Populations might include women, minorities, veterans, tribal groups or others.
Support for manufacturing businesses
Small manufacturers play a crucial role in the U.S. economy. SBA is the nation’s largest support network for small businesses. For that reason, we established a Manufacturing Office. Our focus is on prioritizing the expansion of small U.S. manufacturers. Current areas of interest include:
- Commercializing innovation
- Automating processes
- Entering new markets
- Expanding capacity
- Strengthening resiliency
Learn more about the Office and SBA’s support for manufacturing businesses.
Equity Initiative
Entrepreneurs in underserved communities can experience barriers to accessing SBA products and services. SBA is working to improve access to key resources. In this way, we can provide support to small businesses where they need to be.
Small Businesses Against Trafficking in Persons (SBATiP)
Human trafficking is rampant across numerous industries, impacting small businesses through potential encounters in everyday operations. Small businesses are encouraged to recognize the indicators and report suspected trafficking.
Learn more about SBATiP’s initiative to combat human trafficking in small businesses.
Labor partnerships and worker organizing
In April 2021, President Biden established the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment. The Task Force engages government to encourage worker organizing and collective bargaining.
Investment Capital Advisory Committee (ICAC)
ICAC provides SBA with insights and recommendations related to:
- Greater access to patient investment capital for small businesses
- Promoting greater awareness of SBA programs and services
- Cultivating greater public-private engagement and collaboration
- Evolving SBA programs and services to address long-term capital access gaps
Invention, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee (IIEAC)
IIEAC provides SBA with advice and recommendations on:
- The innovation ecosystem
- Innovation commercialization
- Lab-to-market translation
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)
A collaboration to engage with African-American, Black, and historically disadvantaged small business owners.
Interagency capital resources for small businesses
The Interagency Community Investment Committee (ICIC) worked to better align federal community investment programs to help strategic resources flow into underserved communities across the country.