The Indianapolis Star
Brittany Carloni
March 10, 2025
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/10/kelly-loeffler-indianapolis-manufacturing-aerodyn-mike-braun-jim-banks-todd-young/81985886007/
President Donald Trump's newly-confirmed U.S. Small Business Administration head visited Indianapolis on Monday to launch a manufacturing initiative seeking to cut $100 billion in regulations for small business manufacturers.
But while SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler's goal was to tout the administration's “Made in America Manufacturing Initiative,” her Indy visit came amid uncertainty over the impact of retaliatory tariffs on businesses, and one week after Trump called for an end to the CHIPS and Science Act.
That law, which boosted domestic manufacturing of computer chips and contained money for some small business initiatives, was championed by Sen. Todd Young. He joined Loeffler on her tour of Aerodyn Engineering, alongside Gov. Mike Braun and U.S. Sen. Jim Banks on Monday.
The tour was one of Loeffler's first stops since officially joining the Trump administration last month, and one of the first times Braun and Young and Banks had to share the limelight since Banks and Braun took office in January.
Loeffler said Indiana was among her first visits since her confirmation because of the state’s role in the manufacturing industry. Indiana in 2023 had the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs than anywhere else in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The SBA manufacturing initiative’s focus on deregulation will help Indiana continue to be a “business-friendly” state, Loeffler said.
"It’s critically important that Washington understands that it’s free enterprise that creates economic opportunity, not the government,” Loeffler said. “By working together, at the state and federal levels, we can make sure that we don’t stifle innovation, but we help feed innovation.”
In addition to cutting billions of regulations, the SBA’s “Made in America Manufacturing Initiative” will include:
- Creating a “red tape” hotline for small businesses to share “onerous” regulations to be reviewed
- Reducing barriers to a loan program to provide financial support for purchasing real estate, equipment and construction
- Expanding a financing program for inventory purchases and expenses tied to exporting products to international markets
- Partnering with trade schools and businesses to boost the manufacturing workforce
- Supporting Trump priorities, including tariffs and tax cuts on production in the U.S.
Loeffler, a former U.S. senator from Georgia, previously served in Congress with Braun, Young and Banks. The four talked as they walked through the manufacturing facility together and listened to Aerodyn founder and owner Dave Lawrence share about the parts the company makes.
Braun said Loeffler, “a farm girl from Illinois” knows what kind of environment is needed for small businesses to be successful and, as a former small business owner himself, looks forward to working with Loeffler in his new role as governor.
“I'm the steward of Indiana being considered one of the top places in the country to start a business, grow a business, raise a family,” Braun said. “So we are blessed to have someone in the SBA that is going to be that interface with Main Street.”
Loeffler talks tariffs, CHIPS Act
Loeffler took questions from reporters and business leaders on Monday, including on the impacts tariffs might have on small businesses and whether the CHIPS Act fits into the SBA manufacturing initiative.
Trump last week postponed tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico after announcing plans to implement them on the two countries. Loeffler said while there may be an adjustment period for small businesses under Trump's trade policies, the president is "defending the American worker" and strengthening American supply chains.
"Creating an economy where we have strong, blue collar, good-paying jobs and an economy that lifts everyone up, I think it'll be almost imperceptible relative to the gains that lay ahead," she said.
On the CHIPS Act, Loeffler emphasized that Trump has initiated major capital investments in his first weeks in office.
"The best dollar can come from the private sector, from that investment, and that way taxpayers can make sure that they're not being asked to build these," she said. "I think it's really important that we work on a public-private partnership basis to instill that accountability within government."
Young's office last week said they planned to seek clarity on Trump's comments on the CHIPS Act during his address to Congress. A spokesperson on Monday told IndyStar that Young is "open to working with the administration on changes to the law."
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