7J-TCU Manufacturing NOFO FY2026
🏛 Small Business Administration (SBA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 27, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for tribal colleges, universities, and tribal-serving institutions offering manufacturing training. Community colleges and trade schools on or near tribal lands may also apply. The program funds hands-on, in-person training for employees of 8(a) and HUBZone-eligible small businesses. Recipients provide reskilling opportunities through the SBA's Empower to Grow Program.
Applicants must be accredited educational institutions with capacity to deliver manufacturing training. They must serve or be located near tribal communities. The focus is rapid workforce reskilling for eligible small business employees.
Funding supports innovative training models and technical assistance. This is a competitive grant with awards up to $5 million. The program prioritizes tribal economic development through workforce capacity-building.
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Program description
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement is to invite proposals for funding from Tribal Colleges and Universities, Tribal Serving Institutions, Community Colleges on or near Tribal Lands, and other Trade Schools on or near Tribal Lands interested in providing innovative hands-on, in-person manufacturing training and technical assistance through rapid reskilling of employees for 8(a) and HUBZone eligible small businesses , under the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Empower to Grow Program (formerly known as 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance Program).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational Capacity Documentation
- Letters of Support from Partner Small Businesses
- Tribal Acknowledgment or Geographic Verification (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Small Business Administration
- 📧 support@grants.gov
- 📞 202 619 0603
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 59.007 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$2,649,609
-
$1,250,000
-
$1,250,000
-
$1,250,000
-
$1,250,000
-
$937,380
-
$775,000
-
$775,000
-
$420,000
-
$420,000
Top States by Funding
- CA 4 awards $3.9M
- MD 2 awards $1.6M
- MT 2 awards $1.5M
- KS 2 awards $1.5M
- NE 2 awards $1.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 59.007). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $6,083,138 | |
| 2025 | $7,610,107 |
FAQ
What types of organizations can apply for this grant?
Tribal colleges, universities, tribal-serving institutions, community colleges on or near tribal lands, and trade schools on or near tribal lands. You must be an accredited educational institution.
Can community colleges that are not near tribal lands apply?
No. Community colleges must be on or near tribal lands. Trade schools have the same geographic requirement.
What training can we fund with this money?
Hands-on, in-person manufacturing training focused on rapid reskilling. Training must serve employees of 8(a) and HUBZone-eligible small businesses.
What is the deadline and when does it open?
The deadline is August 24, 2026. Check the SBA website for the specific opening date and application portal.
How much funding can we request?
Awards range from $1 million to $5 million. The total funding pool is $10 million for all applicants.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly explain how your training addresses manufacturing skills gaps for eligible small business employees in your service region.
- Emphasize partnerships with 8(a) and HUBZone small businesses to show demand and sustainability.
- Detail your hands-on, in-person training model and how it differs from traditional classroom approaches.
- Include evidence of tribal community support and your institution's capacity to deliver manufacturing programs.
- Provide a realistic budget and timeline for rapid workforce reskilling within the grant period.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without confirmed partnerships with 8(a) or HUBZone small businesses. Proposing online-only or predominantly theoretical training instead of hands-on, in-person instruction. Failing to demonstrate tribal lands connection or geographic eligibility for your institution.
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