On August 14, the SBA announced that small businesses across the energy production supply chain are now eligible for a new 90 percent Energy Guarantee through the International Trade Loan (ITL) program. The enhanced guarantee increases the SBA guarantee from the standard 75 percent available under the agency’s 7(a) Loan Program to 90 percent. According to the SBA, the program is designed to encourage lenders to finance small businesses involved in energy production, distribution, grid modernization, and equipment manufacturing with the goal of increasing energy output and lowering costs for households and small businesses. The expanded ITL eligibility mirrors two similar enhanced guarantees the SBA launched in recent months for food production and manufacturing. Effective immediately, small businesses in 28 designated NAICS codes are eligible, spanning crude petroleum extraction, natural gas extraction, coal mining, metal ore mining, nonmetallic mineral mining, oil and gas well drilling, and related support activities.