Trump's SBA administrator visits Central Texas gun manufacturer
FLORENCE, Texas (KXAN) -- The woman overseeing the Small Business Administration under President Donald Trump toured a Central Texas gun manufacturing facility Thursday morning as part of a nationwide tour.
Kelly Loeffler, the Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator, visited Staccato in Florence, about an hour north of Austin. KXAN was invited to join her exclusively.
"That's what the Small Business Administration is about, it's about creating opportunity for small businesses like this one that are creating jobs and economic growth across this country," Loeffler said. "We've proposed to Congress doubling our manufacturing loan size to $10 million from $5 million so that manufacturers can continue to grow and invest just like here."
Earlier this year, the SBA announced a 'Made in America Manufacturing Initiative' which it says will cut down on red tape and regulations, make loans more accessible and promote a local manufacturing workforce. You can read the full list of promises made under the initiative here.
"That's what President Trump's agenda is about, it's deregulation, it's tax cuts, it's economic opportunity and growth for all Americans," said Loeffler.
The initiative promises to "support President Trump’s manufacturing agenda, including tariffs to restore fair and reciprocal trade..." but some Central Texas businesses have expressed concern about the impact tariffs may have.
We asked Loeffler about those concerns Thursday.
"Yeah, so when we hear the word 'tariff' think fair trade," Loeffler responded. "Our small businesses have been incredibly disadvantaged by unfair trade policies in the last 30 years that hollowed out this country...remember, manufacturing is 99% small businesses."
Thursday, a court blocked most of President Trump's tariffs and then another reinstated them.