SBA to Mark Veterans Small Business Week Nov. 9–13, 2026

The U.S. Small Business Administration will hold National Veterans Small Business Week from Nov. 9 through Nov. 13, 2026, under the theme "Honoring Veteran-Owned, American Made." The weeklong observance is designed to recognize and support military-connected entrepreneurs across manufacturing, technology, and defense-related supply chains.

The scale of veteran-owned enterprise in the United States is substantial. More than 1.8 million veteran-owned small businesses collectively generate $1.3 trillion in annual sales, contribute $258 billion in payroll, and employ roughly four million workers nationwide, according to the SBA.

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A central policy development tied to this year's theme is the Smaller War Plants Commission, established jointly by the SBA and the Department of War in August. The commission is intended to marshal federal resources — including capital, lending, contracting access, and technical assistance — for small-business suppliers within the defense industrial base. Small businesses currently account for more than 70 percent of that base. Priority sectors identified by the commission include munitions, drones, microelectronics, shipbuilding components, strategic minerals, sensors, batteries, and textiles.

Veteran entrepreneurs are specifically encouraged to compete for defense procurement and subcontracting opportunities, with the SBA arguing that skills acquired in uniform — logistics management, precision operations, and mission-oriented leadership — translate directly to commercial manufacturing and defense production roles. The agency also pointed to a Made in America Loan Guarantee program offering a 90 percent federal guarantee to help eligible manufacturers access growth capital, though full program details were not disclosed in the announcement.

Continue reading at Small Business Administration.