CONTACT: Jenna Wines
jwines@vamanufacturers.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 6, 2026
VMA & MSI Awarded U.S. SBA E2G Grant for New Path to Prime Program
-First of Its Kind Regional Collaboration with West Virginia Manufacturers Association and Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association-
Enrollment: Manufacturers interested in participating in Path to Prime should email Wes Smith, Executive Director of MSI, at wsmith@vamanufacturers.com to enroll or request program information.
RICHMOND, VA— The Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA), through its workforce development affiliate, the Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI), announces its participation in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Empower to Grow (E2G) Program. Through this grant award, the VMA will launch its new Path to Prime Program, designed to help small manufacturers in Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania gain access to opportunities in federal procurement and the defense industrial supply chain. Path to Prime creates a regional “front door” for manufacturers seeking to become qualified federal suppliers, strengthening both manufacturing economic competitiveness and the U.S. federal supplier industrial base.
The E2G Grant Initiative reflects SBA’s focus on rebuilding American manufacturing by equipping small firms with the skills, compliance readiness, and industry connections they need to win federal work. Small manufacturers across Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania make the parts that the defense industrial base depends on, yet too few are in the federal supply chain. Most are held back by the same obstacles: a shortage of skilled workers, cybersecurity requirements they cannot meet, digital engineering capabilities they have not needed until now, and no direct line to the buyers.
Path to Prime closes those gaps. The program pairs hands-on training and industry-recognized workforce credentials with digital-twin manufacturing labs, CMMC compliance readiness, and direct engagement with prime contractors. Firms enter with a capability gap and leave qualified to bid.
The VMA and MSI will partner with the West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA) and the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association (PMA) to establish a coordinated support network across SBA Region III. The program is designed to serve E2G-eligible manufacturers across the three-state region
“On behalf of the Virginia Manufacturers Association and the thousands of manufacturers we represent, we extend our sincere appreciation to SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler and the SBA Region III leadership team, including Regional Administrator Jim Spencer and Deputy Regional Administrator Sam Wolford, for their unwavering commitment to strengthening American manufacturing,” said Brett A. Vassey, President & CEO, Virginia Manufacturers Association. “Their support of manufacturers in Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania demonstrates a clear understanding that small and midsized manufacturers are essential to rebuilding domestic supply chains, strengthening national security, and expanding Made in America production. We are grateful for their leadership and partnership.”
“This award is especially significant because it represents the first collaboration of its kind among the Virginia Manufacturers Association, West Virginia Manufacturers Association, and Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association,” said Wes Smith, Executive Director, Manufacturing Skills Institute. “Together, we have created a new model of regional manufacturing cooperation focused on expanding Made in America opportunities for federal suppliers of manufactured goods and for Department of War Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers that support prime contractors. By combining workforce development, digital engineering, cybersecurity readiness, and direct supply chain engagement, we can help more manufacturers successfully compete for federal business and strengthen domestic production capabilities.”
Program Benefits
- Improves access to federal contracting opportunities by helping small manufacturers become contract-ready and more competitive for federal procurement.
- Builds cybersecurity compliance through CMMC Level 1 and Level 2 readiness support, including advisory services, training, and mock assessments
- Opens access to digital engineering through a regional Digital Twin Manufacturing Lab Network built on Siemens tools
- Delivers industry-recognized credentials through customized on-site and cohort-based training
- Connects firms directly to prime contractors through supplier readiness assessments and matchmaking events
Expected Outcomes
- New contract bids submitted by participating manufacturers.
- New contract or subcontract awards.
- New teaming agreements.
- Skilled manufacturing jobs created and retained.
- CMMC certification readiness.
The Path to Prime program builds upon VMA’s long history of manufacturing leadership and MSI’s nationally recognized workforce development programs. Together, the VMA, WVMA, and PMA have established a strong foundation for delivering scalable solutions that support manufacturer competitiveness, workforce excellence, and supply chain resilience throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
About the Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA)
The Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA) is the only statewide association exclusively dedicated to advancing manufacturing in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Founded in 1922, VMA serves manufacturers of all sizes through advocacy, workforce development, training, networking, and business growth initiatives. Through its affiliate, the Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI), VMA delivers nationally recognized workforce solutions that strengthen manufacturing competitiveness and support economic growth across Virginia and beyond.