SBA’s Kelly Loeffler Wins 1st Wash100 Award for Revitalizing the Small Business Administration
Executive Mosaic is honored to name Kelly Loeffler, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, as a 2026 Wash100 Award winner for her leadership in strengthening support for entrepreneurs, improving federal contracting access for small businesses and driving operational reform across the agency.
Make your voice heard! Cast your vote for Kelly Loeffler in the 2026 Wash100 popular vote and recognize her achievements at the SBA.
Why Is Kelly Loeffler Winning a 2026 Wash100 Award?
Loeffler earned her first Wash100 recognition for the results the SBA has achieved under her leadership, particularly in expanding opportunities for small businesses and improving agency performance.
“I’m ecstatic to award Administrator Loeffler her first Wash100 Award for her tireless work helping American small businesses improve their growth, hiring and investment rates,” said Jim Garrettson, Executive Mosaic CEO and founder of the prestigious award. “She’s led the Small Business Administration to improved efficiency, better fiscal responsibility and a renewed focus on empowering small firms and growing the economy.”
Garrettson also highlighted measurable gains in federal contracting access and startup financing during Loeffler’s tenure.
“Administrator Loeffler’s success here was proven in growing the amount of federal contracts awarded to small businesses to 23 percent and increasing the amount of loans to new startups by 56 percent,” he said.
“As part of her impressive career of public service, Administrator Loeffler has revitalized the SBA and I eagerly anticipate what she has in store for fledgling enterprises in 2026.”
Who Is Kelly Loeffler?
Loeffler became the 28th administrator of the SBA in February 2025, overseeing the federal agency responsible for supporting millions of American businesses through lending programs, counseling services and government contracting opportunities.
At the SBA, she has focused on strengthening program oversight, improving operational efficiency and expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs. Her leadership has also emphasized ensuring federal programs responsibly steward taxpayer resources while helping small businesses start, grow and compete in the federal marketplace.
Before leading the SBA, Loeffler built an extensive career in finance and technology. She spent more than two decades at Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, where she held several senior executive roles focused on investor relations, communications and corporate strategy.
She later founded and led Bakkt, a fintech platform focused on digital assets and cryptocurrency infrastructure.
Loeffler also previously served as a U.S. senator representing Georgia from 2020 to 2021, bringing legislative and policy experience that now informs her leadership at the SBA and her work supporting American entrepreneurs.
What Are Some of Kelly Loeffler’s Recent Career Achievements?
Since becoming administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2025, Kelly Loeffler has led a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening support for entrepreneurs while improving the agency’s operational performance. Her tenure has focused on expanding access to capital, increasing federal contracting opportunities for small businesses and enhancing accountability across SBA programs.
Record Growth in SBA Lending
Under Loeffler’s leadership, the SBA significantly increased lending activity through its flagship financing programs, including the SBA 7(a) Loan Program and SBA 504 Loan Program. The agency approved nearly 45,000 loans worth more than $23 billion, representing an 11 percent year-over-year increase and reflecting strong demand from small businesses seeking capital to launch or expand operations.
She also greatly expanded the 7(a) Working Capital Pilot Program, which has provided more than $150 million in lending since its launch. Much of that growth has occurred over Loeffler’s tenure as small manufacturers increasingly use the program to access flexible working capital.
“The WCP is one of many SBA initiatives tailored to support America’s 600,000 small manufacturers amid the Trump Administration’s work to restore American industrial dominance,” the administrator said.
Most recently, the SBA under Loeffler’s leadership has published a final rule seeking to modernize the Small Business Investment Company, or SBIC program to increase private capital investment to and strengthen the relationship between government and industry.
“By modernizing decades-old regulations, this final rule strengthens our public-private partnership and ensures capital can flow more efficiently to qualified emerging growth companies ranging from startups to manufacturers who are powering innovation, strengthening critical supply chains, and securing America’s industrial future by building today,” said Loeffler.
Greater financing availability allows small firms to scale operations, invest in workforce and infrastructure and pursue larger government contracts, all of which are critical for competing in the federal marketplace.
Launching the Made in America Manufacturing Initiative
Loeffler launched the Made in America Manufacturing Initiative in early 2025, a program designed to strengthen U.S. manufacturing by improving capital access, cutting regulatory barriers and promoting workforce development for small manufacturers.
By working with lenders, industry groups and local partners, the Small Business Administration aims to help smaller industrial firms scale operations and compete more effectively in both commercial and government markets. The effort also supports national priorities to strengthen domestic supply chains and encourages small manufacturers to participate in the federal procurement ecosystem.
By helping more domestic manufacturers scale and enter the federal marketplace, the effort could expand the pool of suppliers available to government agencies and prime contractors while reinforcing the resilience of the nation’s industrial base.
Strengthening Oversight and Fraud Prevention
Another major focus of her tenure has been accountability in federal small business programs. The SBA introduced new underwriting standards and launched a full audit of the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program to address fraud risks and ensure that assistance programs support legitimate small businesses.
For the GovCon community, stronger oversight can mean tighter compliance requirements, but is aimed at protecting legitimate small businesses from unfair competition and fraud ensuring that small businesses can compete on an equal playing field.
Together, these initiatives highlight Loeffler’s focus on strengthening the SBA’s role as a key driver of entrepreneurship, capital access and small business participation in the federal economy.
What Does Kelly Loeffler’s Success Mean for GovCon?
The progress achieved under Kelly Loeffler at the U.S. Small Business Administration carries significant implications for the government contracting community. By expanding the share of federal contracts awarded to small businesses, Loeffler has helped open the door for more emerging companies to participate in the federal marketplace.
Loeffler’s approach has helped reinforce the agency’s role as a critical gateway for companies seeking to enter or grow within the government contracting ecosystem. Her leadership underscores the growing importance of small businesses as drivers of innovation, competition and economic growth across the federal procurement landscape.
Congratulations to Administrator Loeffler on her 2026 Wash100 Award!
Show your support for Kelly Loeffler—vote now in the 2026 Wash100 popular vote and help honor her impact on small businesses!