SBA Announces 90% Loan Guarantee for Energy Sector

New loan guarantee for small producers will support expanded energy capacity, lower energy prices, and stronger supply chain

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that small businesses across the energy production supply chain are now eligible for a new 90% Energy Guarantee through the SBA International Trade Loan (ITL) Program. Established as part of SOP 50 10 8.1, the enhanced guarantee encourages participating lenders to unleash private investment in energy production, distribution, grid modernization, and equipment manufacturing to increase energy output and support lower costs for households and small businesses.

“Since his first term, President Trump has unleashed American energy dominance by ending Green New Scam mandates, reviving clean, beautiful coal, and advancing drill, baby, drill,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “By establishing a 90% Energy Guarantee, the Trump SBA is offering lenders more incentive to deploy capital to the local businesses expanding America’s energy production and distribution. Supercharging domestic energy capacity across America will bring down utility costs - fueling long-term economic growth on Main Street and cost savings for families.”

The ITL Program unlocks long-term, affordable financing to support American producers – offering borrowers additional flexibility through an increased SBA guarantee of 90% compared to the standard 75% guarantee for the agency’s popular 7(a) Loan Program. The expanded ITL eligibility for energy producers mirrors two similar enhanced guarantees the SBA launched in recent months to incentivize investment in critical industries, including food production and manufacturing.  Since May, the SBA has approved $110 million in capital through its 90% Made in America Guarantee and $82 million in capital through its 90% Grocery Guarantee.

Effective immediately, small businesses in the following NAICS codes are eligible for the expanded ITL Loan Program:

• 211120 — Crude Petroleum Extraction
• 211130 — Natural Gas Extraction

• 212111 — Bituminous Coal and Lignite Surface Mining
• 212112 — Bituminous Coal Underground Mining
• 212113 — Anthracite Mining
• 212210 — Iron Ore Mining
• 212221 — Gold Ore Mining
• 212222 — Silver Ore Mining
• 212230 — Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining
• 212291 — Uranium-Radium-Vanadium Ore Mining
• 212299 — All Other Metal Ore Mining
• 212311 — Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying
• 212312 — Crushed and Broken Limestone Mining and Quarrying
• 212313 — Crushed and Broken Granite Mining and Quarrying
• 212319 — Other Crushed and Broken Stone Mining and Quarrying
• 212321 — Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
• 212322 — Industrial Sand Mining
• 212324 — Kaolin and Ball Clay Mining
• 212325 — Clay and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining
• 212391 — Potash, Soda, and Borate Mineral Mining
• 212392 — Phosphate Rock Mining
• 212393 — Other Chemical and Fertilizer Mineral Mining
• 212399 — All Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining

• 213111 — Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
• 213112 — Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations
• 213113 — Support Activities for Coal Mining
• 213114 — Support Activities for Metal Mining
• 213115 — Support Activities for Nonmetallic Minerals (except Fuels) Mining

As part of SOP 50 10 8.1, the agency is making additional updates to streamline program execution, eliminate unnecessary red tape, and align federal lending tools with President Trump’s agenda to restore American industrial dominance. Beyond energy financing, the updated SOP also aligns acquisition underwriting with commercial norms to streamline owner buyouts and generational transitions. The SBA is also modernizing its revolving credit offerings for capital-intensive industries, including the Manufacturers Access to Revolving Credit (MARC) Loan and SBA Express.

Lenders and small businesses interested in the updated International Trade Loan Program can contact SBA’s national team of Finance Managers for more information. SBA’s Finance Managers team not only supports the ITL Program but also serves as the agency’s working capital specialists and can help lenders and borrowers understand how ITL can be paired with SBA’s expanding suite of working capital solutions.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

SBA HQ Press Team
U.S. Small Business Administration
press_office@sba.gov