Key Takeaways
- The SBA expanded its International Trade Loan (ITL) program in May 2026 with two new initiatives — the Made in America Loan and the Grocery Guarantee Loan — offering up to $1M in working capital with a 90% federal guarantee, 15 percentage points higher than the standard SBA 7(a) program.
- U.S. manufacturers under NAICS Sectors 31, 32, and 33 can now access up to $1M in long-term SBA-backed working capital through the Made in America Loan to fund reshoring, equipment upgrades, supply chain diversification, and domestic workforce expansion.
- Agriculture, food retail, food processing, and food distribution businesses can now qualify for SBA financing through the Grocery Guarantee Loan — a historic shift that previously directed these businesses to USDA programs with significantly lower loan limits.
- Both programs require a 600+ FICO score, $100K+ in annual revenue, and 2–3 years in business, with loan sizing based on DSCR or 35% of annual revenue, and repayment terms up to 10 years at WSJ Prime + 3.00%.
The SBA just expanded its International Trade Loan (ITL) program with two targeted initiatives: one for manufacturers and one for the food supply chain.
Here’s what you need to know.
Here’s what you need to know.
01 — The SBA ITL: A Foundation for Growth
The ITL has long been a powerful tool in the SBA’s lending portfolio and these two new programs will further contribute to that.
The ITL was originally designed for one purpose: to help small businesses compete in a global economy. Whether a company was expanding into export markets or had been hurt by foreign competition, the ITL gave lenders the confidence to back them with a 90% SBA guarantee.
That guarantee is key.
It means the SBA covers up to 90 cents of every dollar if a loan defaults, dramatically lowering the risk for lenders and, in turn, making capital more accessible for borrowers.
For context, the SBA’s flagship 7(a) loan program carries a standard guarantee of 75%. The ITL’s 90% guarantee puts it in a different category with a stronger backstop, more lender confidence, and better odds of approval for businesses that might otherwise struggle to qualify.
Eligible uses under the ITL have always been broad: acquiring or upgrading U.S.-based facilities and equipment used in trade, bringing production back to American soil, working capital needs, and refinancing existing business debt on unreasonable terms.
Repayment terms stretch up to 25 years for real estate and 10 years for working capital, far longer than most conventional business loans.
Why the 90% guarantee matters to you: A higher federal guarantee means lenders take on less risk. This translates to broader approval rates, more favorable terms, and more willingness to lend to businesses in capital-intensive industries that traditional banks might hesitate on.
For years, the ITL remained a niche product, mostly used by exporters and import-competing manufacturers who could directly tie their loan purpose to international trade. That’s changing in a big way in 2026.
The ITL was originally designed for one purpose: to help small businesses compete in a global economy. Whether a company was expanding into export markets or had been hurt by foreign competition, the ITL gave lenders the confidence to back them with a 90% SBA guarantee.
That guarantee is key.
It means the SBA covers up to 90 cents of every dollar if a loan defaults, dramatically lowering the risk for lenders and, in turn, making capital more accessible for borrowers.
For context, the SBA’s flagship 7(a) loan program carries a standard guarantee of 75%. The ITL’s 90% guarantee puts it in a different category with a stronger backstop, more lender confidence, and better odds of approval for businesses that might otherwise struggle to qualify.
Eligible uses under the ITL have always been broad: acquiring or upgrading U.S.-based facilities and equipment used in trade, bringing production back to American soil, working capital needs, and refinancing existing business debt on unreasonable terms.
Repayment terms stretch up to 25 years for real estate and 10 years for working capital, far longer than most conventional business loans.
Why the 90% guarantee matters to you: A higher federal guarantee means lenders take on less risk. This translates to broader approval rates, more favorable terms, and more willingness to lend to businesses in capital-intensive industries that traditional banks might hesitate on.
For years, the ITL remained a niche product, mostly used by exporters and import-competing manufacturers who could directly tie their loan purpose to international trade. That’s changing in a big way in 2026.
02 — How the New Programs Expand the ITL
Effective May 1, 2026, the SBA is using the ITL framework to unlock capital for two industries that have historically had limited access to long-term, government-backed financing: domestic manufacturers and food supply chain businesses.
Rather than creating entirely new loan structures, the SBA is expanding ITL eligibility by broadening who qualifies and what the loans can be used for, while preserving the program’s signature 90% federal guarantee. The result is two distinct initiatives with their own eligible industries, use cases, and branding.
The SBA Made in America Loan opens the ITL to virtually all U.S. manufacturers (NAICS Sectors 31, 32, and 33), with an explicit focus on reshoring, modernization, and workforce expansion.
The SBA Grocery Guarantee Loan does the same for agriculture, food retail, and food processing— industries long underserved by traditional SBA channels.
Both programs open for applications on May 1, 2026 and NEWITY is already accepting and queuing applications ahead of that date.
Rather than creating entirely new loan structures, the SBA is expanding ITL eligibility by broadening who qualifies and what the loans can be used for, while preserving the program’s signature 90% federal guarantee. The result is two distinct initiatives with their own eligible industries, use cases, and branding.
The SBA Made in America Loan opens the ITL to virtually all U.S. manufacturers (NAICS Sectors 31, 32, and 33), with an explicit focus on reshoring, modernization, and workforce expansion.
The SBA Grocery Guarantee Loan does the same for agriculture, food retail, and food processing— industries long underserved by traditional SBA channels.
Both programs open for applications on May 1, 2026 and NEWITY is already accepting and queuing applications ahead of that date.
03 — SBA Made in America Loan
Small manufacturers represent 98% of all manufacturing businesses in the United States.
They’re the backbone of American industry and yet they’ve often been left out of the most competitive financing options, squeezed between limited bank appetite and cumbersome loan structures.
The Made in America Loan directly addresses that gap.
They’re the backbone of American industry and yet they’ve often been left out of the most competitive financing options, squeezed between limited bank appetite and cumbersome loan structures.
The Made in America Loan directly addresses that gap.
Loan Amount: Up to $1,000,000 in working capital
Term: 10 years
Eligible Industries U.S. manufacturers operating under NAICS Sectors 31, 32, and 33, including:
Term: 10 years
Eligible Industries U.S. manufacturers operating under NAICS Sectors 31, 32, and 33, including:
- Non-durable & consumer goods: food, textiles, leather, apparel
- Durable goods & processed materials: chemicals, plastics, paper, wood
- Durable machinery & finished products: machinery, electronics, appliances
- Facility and production line modernization
- Equipment purchases, upgrades, and replacement
- Supply chain diversification
- Production relocation to the U.S., including real estate
- Hiring and expanding a domestic workforce
- Loans up to $350,000: 1.10x DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) required
- Loans over $350,001: the lesser of 1.15x DSCR for the applicant business, 1.0x global DSCR, or 35% of annual revenue
- FICO score of 600+ for all majority owners
- Minimum annual gross revenue of $100,000 2+ years in business for loans up to $350,000; 3+ years for loans over $350,001
- 100% U.S. citizen ownership
- No convicted non-financial felonies within the last five years; no financial felony convictions
Who Should Be Paying Attention
If your business falls under NAICS Sectors 31, 32, or 33— from food manufacturers to furniture makers, chemical processors to electronics assemblers— this program was built for you.
The Made in America Loan is especially well-suited to businesses navigating the current trade environment: companies looking to reduce their dependence on foreign suppliers, invest in domestic production capacity, or bring operations back to the U.S. from overseas facilities.
Tariff pressures and supply chain disruptions have pushed many small manufacturers to consider reshoring, but the upfront capital required for that transition is significant. This program provides a long-term, government-backed path to fund it.
The Made in America Loan is especially well-suited to businesses navigating the current trade environment: companies looking to reduce their dependence on foreign suppliers, invest in domestic production capacity, or bring operations back to the U.S. from overseas facilities.
Tariff pressures and supply chain disruptions have pushed many small manufacturers to consider reshoring, but the upfront capital required for that transition is significant. This program provides a long-term, government-backed path to fund it.
For loans up to $350,000:
- Two most recent business tax returns
- Most recent personal tax return
- Business bank statements for the past 6 months
- Business debt schedule, if applicable
- Three most recent business tax returns
- Most recent personal tax return
- Business bank statements for the past 12 months
- Debt schedule for business, all affiliates, and guarantors
- Interim P&L Statement and Balance Sheet (dated within 90 days)
04 — SBA Grocery Guarantee Loan
The Grocery Guarantee is a new expansion of SBA lending.
Historically, agriculture businesses have had limited access to SBA programs, often directed instead to USDA’s Farm Service Agency, where loan limits have been considerably lower.
The Grocery Guarantee changes that, opening the ITL program to a wide range of food supply chain businesses for the first time.
The aim is straightforward: more capital flowing into domestic food production and distribution means more supply, more competition, and ultimately lower grocery prices for consumers.
For small business owners in agriculture and food— a sector that has faced its own set of capital access challenges— this is a meaningful shift in what’s available.
Historically, agriculture businesses have had limited access to SBA programs, often directed instead to USDA’s Farm Service Agency, where loan limits have been considerably lower.
The Grocery Guarantee changes that, opening the ITL program to a wide range of food supply chain businesses for the first time.
The aim is straightforward: more capital flowing into domestic food production and distribution means more supply, more competition, and ultimately lower grocery prices for consumers.
For small business owners in agriculture and food— a sector that has faced its own set of capital access challenges— this is a meaningful shift in what’s available.
Loan Amount: Up to $1,000,000 in working capital
Term: 10 years
Eligible Industries
Term: 10 years
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture and farming (crops, livestock, aquaculture)
- Grocery and food retail
- Food processing and packaging
- Food logistics and distribution
- Expansion & modernization of facilities and infrastructure
- Real estate and equipment
- Technology, inventory, and supplies
- Working capital
- Loans up to $350,000: 1.10x DSCR required
- Loans over $350,001: the lesser of 1.15x DSCR for the applicant business, 1.0x global DSCR, or 35% of annual revenue
- FICO score of 600+ for all majority owners
- Minimum annual gross revenue of $100,000
- 2+ years in business for loans up to $350,000; 3+ years for loans over $350,001; 4+ years for construction businesses
- 100% U.S. citizen ownership
- No convicted non-financial felonies within the last five years; no financial felony convictions
Why This Matters for Food Businesses
The food supply chain is capital-intensive at every level. A produce farmer needs equipment and irrigation. A regional food processor needs facility upgrades. A small grocery retailer needs to expand their distribution reach. Until now, long-term, government-backed working capital at competitive rates was largely inaccessible to these businesses through SBA channels.
The Grocery Guarantee removes that barrier. With a 90% federal guarantee— 15 percentage points higher than the standard SBA 7(a) program— lenders will have significantly more confidence lending to agricultural operators and food businesses that may carry seasonal revenue patterns or specialized collateral profiles.
The Grocery Guarantee removes that barrier. With a 90% federal guarantee— 15 percentage points higher than the standard SBA 7(a) program— lenders will have significantly more confidence lending to agricultural operators and food businesses that may carry seasonal revenue patterns or specialized collateral profiles.
For loans up to $350,000:
- Two most recent business tax returns
- Most recent personal tax return
- Business bank statements for the past 6 months
- Business debt schedule, if applicable
- Three most recent business tax returns
- Most recent personal tax return
- Business bank statements for the past 12 months
- Debt schedule for business, all affiliates, and guarantors
- Interim P&L Statement and Balance Sheet (dated within 90 days)
05 — Side-by-Side Comparison
Both programs share the same core loan structure, eligibility criteria, and documentation requirements. The primary difference is who they serve and what the funds can specifically be used for.
SBA Loan | Grocery Guarantee | Made in America | |
|---|---|---|---|
Core Focus | General small business financing; operations, expansion, equipment, real estate, debt refinance | Expand domestic food production and supply to reduce grocery prices | Rebuild U.S. manufacturing capacity; incentivize onshoring and domestic industrial dominance |
SBA Guarantee | 75% | 90% | 90% |
Eligible Uses | Working capital | Facility/infrastructure expansion & modernization, real estate and equipment, technology, inventory, and supplies, working capital | Facility and production line modernization, equipment purchases, upgrades, and replacement, supply chain diversification, production relocation to the US, incl. real estate, hiring and expanding a domestic workforce |
Who Qualifies | Any for-profit U.S. small business unable to obtain credit elsewhere on reasonable terms | NAICS Codes 1111XX-1113XX, 1121XX-1125XX,
1129XX, 1141XX, 1151XX, 423820, 4244XX,
4245XX, 424910, 445110 | NAICS sectors 31, 32, 33 |
Apply Through NEWITY
NEWITY is already accepting applications for both programs, queuing them ahead of the May 1 SBA launch date, so you’re at the front of the line.
At NEWITY, our entire model is built around removing friction from the SBA lending process. We’ve helped more than 125,000 small businesses access over $12 billion in capital, and we move 3x faster than the national lending average. These two new programs are now part of that same streamlined experience.
Submit your application today, with no credit impact and no commitment required.
At NEWITY, our entire model is built around removing friction from the SBA lending process. We’ve helped more than 125,000 small businesses access over $12 billion in capital, and we move 3x faster than the national lending average. These two new programs are now part of that same streamlined experience.
Submit your application today, with no credit impact and no commitment required.
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