{"id":466440,"date":"2026-06-30T06:39:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T20:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?guid=ca91e0f94d61332a302c24ab17f2223b"},"modified":"2026-06-30T06:39:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T20:39:57","slug":"nasa-sba-announce-new-initiative-to-scale-american-space-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=466440","title":{"rendered":"NASA, SBA Announce New Initiative to Scale American Space Economy\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, right, and Administrator of the Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler, left, pose for a photo after signing a Memorandum of Agreement Monday, June 29, 2026, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. This Memorandum of Agreement will provide the framework for NASA and the Small Business Administration Office of Investment and Innovation to support the growth of the Small Business Investment Company-NASA Initiative.<\/div>\n
Credit: NASA\/Keegan Barber<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NASA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched the SBIC-NASA Initiative on Monday to increase investment in American manufacturers of industrial components and providers of technologies critical to space exploration to support a sustained presence on the Moon and Mars. <\/p>\n

Under the Memorandum of Agreement, NASA will identify technology priorities and connect businesses to funding opportunities through the agency\u2019s new NASA Office of Strategic Capital. The initiative also will be a part of SBA\u2019s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program, which provides leverage that matches private capital raised by investment funds and is designed to enhance fund-level investment returns.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo achieve President Trump\u2019s National Space Policy, NASA needs a stronger industrial base capable of moving at the speed this new space race demands,\u201d said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. \u201cThrough the NASA Office of Strategic Capital, this partnership with the SBA will help small businesses access the capital they need to scale, strengthen critical supply chains, rebuild America\u2019s industrial might, and deliver the outcomes necessary to ensure the United States leads the next era of space exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n

By augmenting the investable capital for investment funds licensed by the SBA under this SBIC-NASA Initiative, the new initiative expands access to capital for small businesses within the space industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo meet President Trump\u2019s objective of securing American leadership on every frontier, the SBA and NASA are partnering to supercharge the industrial base behind our space program and connect the innovators building critical technologies with needed capital,\u201d said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. \u201cThrough this partnership with NASA, the SBA is mobilizing private sector investment to fuel the small businesses, manufacturers, and innovators that are driving American space dominance. By aligning capital with strategic national priorities, this exciting effort will help launch the next great era of space exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under the agreement, NASA will define strategic aerospace technology focus areas and identify supply chain needs. The SBA will use those priorities to attract and license qualified private investment funds that commit to invest at least 60% of their capital into NASA-identified focus areas, including:<\/p>\n