Alibaba expects the initiative to create a million US jobs as each company adds a position.
The announcement comes amid rising tension between China and the incoming Trump administration, with some analysts predicting a trade war sparked by protectionism and tariff barriers.
Trump often targeted China in the election campaign, blaming Beijing for US job losses and vowing to impose 45% tariffs on Chinese imports. He promised to call China a currency manipulator on his first day in office.
Alibaba has previously campaigned to bring more small US businesses onto the company's sites, but this is the first time Ma has discussed specific targets.
Ma said the two mainly discussed supporting small businesses - especially in the Midwest - such as farmers and small clothing-makers, who could tap the Chinese market directly through Alibaba, whose Tmall online shopping platform offers virtual storefronts and payment portals to merchants.
Optimism among the US's small businesses soared in December by the most since 1980 as expectations about the economy's prospects improved dramatically in the aftermath of the presidential election.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
