The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that small businesses across America’s food supply chain are now eligible for an enhanced “Grocery Guarantee” through the SBA International Trade Loan (ITL) Program. The loans, which come with a 90% federal guarantee, will be available to a broad range of producers in the agriculture and logistics industries, to expand food production and supply – with the aim of reducing grocery costs for consumers.
The new Grocery Guarantee will drive even more investment in our nation’s food supply chain – infusing farmers, ranchers, and logistics providers with expanded access to capital that will increase production, processing, and distribution.
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 Grocery Guarantee will give local lenders greater confidence to deploy capital into the food supply chain, supporting investments in production capacity, processing, and distribution to increase the supply of domestic food products and lower grocery prices.
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 Manager 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 - including the MARC and Working Capital Pilot.
A webinar will be held on Friday, June 12, 2026, beginning at 2:30-3:00 PM, to provide additional detail about the program. The webinar is free, but advanced registration is required.
CLICK HERE to register.
