Release
Immediate Release

DOD Partners With U.S. Small Business Administration to Support Defense Small Businesses

April 8, 2020

Today, at 3 p.m. the Department of Defense's Office of Small of Business Programs (OSBP) will join with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to host a webinar for industry partners to provide advice and give defense companies an opportunity to ask detailed questions to best address their needs.

This webinar is another example of how the Department continues to partner with defense industry associations and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide support to Defense Industrial Base small businesses being impacted by COVID-19.

The Director of the Office of Small of Business Programs (OSBP), Ms. Amy Young Murray, has led two industry calls focused on small business with representatives from the Military Services, Defense stakeholders and defense industry associations to help engage and listen to issues from the associations' 3 million company members.

The U.S. Small Business Administration participated in the last OSBP call to provide important status updates on COVID-19 resources and programs, including the newly implemented Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which is an SBA loan that helps businesses keep their workforce on payroll employed during the national emergency. 

"The Paycheck Protection Program represents an important day for small business, as it is a critical step forward and will help keep the Defense Industrial Base strong," said Ms. Murray.  "The Department is committed to working with the Small Business Administration and our partnership has never been stronger as we continue to fight for small businesses in the face of COVID-19."

Many small businesses within the Defense Industrial base (DIB) have voiced concerns regarding cash flow.  In addition to the PPP, the SBA has four programs available to assist during the pandemic, including: the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance, SBA Express Bridge Loans, and SBA Debt Relief. 

Companies interested in joining today's webinar should visit the Office of Small Business Programs website, https://business.defense.gov/.   For more information on SBA loans, please visit www.sba.gov