When most people think of Oklahoma’s economy, they picture oil rigs, cattle ranches, or fields of wheat stretching toward the horizon. While these industries are core to our heritage, there’s another economic engine quietly shaping our future: small business manufacturing. Across Oklahoma these businesses are creating good-paying jobs, fostering innovation, and strengthening our state’s resilience in a rapidly changing global market.
Manufacturing in Oklahoma isn’t the domain of massive factories alone. Small manufacturers — those with fewer than 500 employees— which make up 98% of all U.S. manufacturers. These companies are nimble, adaptable, and deeply connected to their communities. They are the ones producing aerospace components for the next generation of aircraft, crafting custom metal parts for renewable energy projects, and building the locally-made goods that stock shelves across the region.
While small manufacturers are resourceful, they often face significant barriers: access to capital for advanced equipment, workforce training for hightech processes, and guidance in expanding to global markets. That’s where SBA is ready to help.
The SBA has long been a vital partner to America’s entrepreneurs, but manufacturing presents unique opportunities — and challenges — that require specialized attention. Encouraging and supporting smallscale manufacturing in Oklahoma can pay dividends in multiple ways: 1. High-Quality Jobs: Manufacturing jobs typically pay higher wages and offer better benefits than many service-sector positions. In rural and smaller towns, a small manufacturing plant can be a lifeline, providing stable employment and keeping families rooted in their communities.
2. Innovation and Competitiveness: Small manufacturers are often at the forefront of niche innovation — developing proprietary processes, new materials, or custom solutions. With SBA-backed investment and technical assistance, these companies can leap ahead of competitors both domestically and abroad.
3. Resilient Supply Chains: The pandemic revealed the fragility of relying on distant overseas suppliers. Supporting local manufacturing strengthens regional supply chains, reduces vulnerability to global disruptions, and ensures that essential goods remain available when they’re needed most.
4. Economic Diversification: Oklahoma’s economy is strongest when it doesn’t depend solely on one sector. Expanding small business manufacturing spreads risk and fosters a more balanced economic base that can better weather commodity price swings or sector downturns.
Just this month the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched its first-ever loan program dedicated to supporting America’s small manufacturers. The 7(a) Manufacturer’s Access to Revolving Credit (MARC) Loan Program will offer working capital for small businesses engaged in manufacturing (NAICS 31-33), specifically designed to provide maximum flexibility and minimal red tape.
If Oklahoma is to compete in the next century, we must recognize small business manufacturing as a strategic priority. With the SBA as an active partner, Oklahoma can turn machine shops, fabrication floors, and artisan workshops into the engines of our economic renaissance.
As we recognize October as National Manufacturing month it’s important to remember that the future of Oklahoma doesn’t just lie in our fields and oil wells — it’s also humming quietly in our factories. It’s time to make sure that hum becomes a roar.
Fernanda Pedraza Schmitt Okla. Dist. Director SBA
