August 25, 2026
The Smaller War Plants Commission is back
The SBA and the Department of War created a commission to bring small manufacturers into defense production, with 90% loan guarantees and an inventory of small-shop capacity.
Congress writes a civil reserve for manufacturing into law
The 2026 defense bill sets up a Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network, modeled on the airline fleet the military can call on in a crisis.
America has 2,000 fewer machine shops than in 2014
Federal labor statistics count 18,734 machine shops in 2024, down from 20,734 ten years earlier.
More than half of small-business owners are 55 or older
Gallup found 52.3% of owners with employees are 55 or older, and far fewer of them plan to expand.