ONAA 7J-TCU Manufacturing NOFO FY2026
This grant funds Tribal and nearby colleges to provide hands-on manufacturing training and rapid reskilling for small businesses under the SBA’s Empower to Grow Program.
Funder: Small Business Administration
Due Dates: August 24, 2026: Full application submission deadline via Grants.gov (11:59 PM ET) | August 24, 2026: GrantSolutions submission deadline (5:00 PM ET)
Funding Amounts: Up to $10 million total; up to 5 awards; maximum $5,000,000 per award for a 12-month project period; no cost sharing required.
Summary: Supports Tribal Colleges, tribal-serving institutions, and community colleges near tribal lands to deliver innovative, hands-on manufacturing training and technical assistance for 8(a) and HUBZone eligible small businesses.
Key Information: Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov; late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Description
This opportunity from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) aims to fund Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), tribal-serving institutions, and community or trade schools located on or near tribal lands to provide hands-on, in-person manufacturing training and technical assistance. The program is part of SBA’s Empower to Grow (E2G) initiative, formerly known as the 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance Program. The focus is on rapid reskilling of employees for 8(a) and HUBZone eligible small businesses, with the goal of expanding workforce capacity, supporting Native American entrepreneurs, and strengthening the small business ecosystem in underserved communities.
The grant seeks innovative proposals that offer unique approaches to manufacturing workforce development, targeting key industries such as aerospace, industrial machinery, medical and precision manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, and more. Funded projects must not duplicate existing SBA services and should prioritize in-person, outcome-oriented training and measurable impact in business development, job creation, and community economic growth.
