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White House Convenes to Propel Additive Manufacturing Investments

Last week, the White House National Economic Council (NEC) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) spearheaded discussions centered on improving the landscape of small business investments. Notably, there was a distinct focus on propelling additive manufacturing technologies

AM Forward fund
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Last week, the White House National Economic Council (NEC) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) spearheaded discussions centered on improving the landscape of small business investments. Notably, there was a distinct focus on propelling additive manufacturing technologies to the forefront, particularly through the AM Forward fund.

The meeting showcased significant milestones for the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program, reflecting the Biden-Harris Administration’s focus on fueling innovation and empowering small businesses to strengthen the economy. By uniting public and private forces, this program seeks to channel critical investment into young and small companies leading the charge in cutting-edge tech and advanced manufacturing. Ultimately, aiming to increase both economic prosperity and national security.

President Biden meets with senior leadership from Sintavia, Lockheed Martin, and Honeywell on May 6, 2022 to discuss the AM Forward initiative, as he inspects manufactured metals.

President Biden meets with senior leadership from Sintavia, Lockheed Martin, and Honeywell to discuss the AM Forward initiative. (Photo Credits: AP – Andrew Harnik)

At the heart of these efforts lays AM Forward, which was originally announced back in 2022. At this meeting, Stifel North Atlantic received approval to raise private capital for the additive manufacturing fund (through AM Forward) as part of the SBA-DOD SBIC Critical Technologies (SBICCT) initiative. This initiative, born from a strategic partnership between the SBA and the Department of Defense (DOD), represents a significant stride forward in strengthening domestic supply chains within critical sectors like defense, aerospace, and energy.