SBA Invests Over $1 Million to Expand Support for Veteran Entrepreneurs
June 20 2024 - 2:53PM
Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA)
announced over $1 million in new funding to
provide critical training and counseling to aspiring and existing
veteran small business owners as a Veterans Business Outreach
Center (VBOC).
The new funding opportunity will make awards of up to $400,000
to up to three entities. Eligible awardees include private
organizations, colleges and universities, private sector firms,
nonprofit organizations, and state, local, or tribal governmental
agencies.
“Through this initiative, the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business
Development (OVBD) is investing in military-connected entrepreneurs
that will grow the VBOC program from 28 to 31 locations
nationwide,” said Robert Yannuzzi, Assistant Administrator
for the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development. “This
expansion will enhance the entrepreneurship experience across all
U.S. states and territories.”
With this SBA funding, recipients will offer training to
transitioning service members and military spouses via the Boots to
Business entrepreneurship program, a key component of the
Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program, as well as
Boots to Business Reboot and the Military Spouse Pathway to
Business program. Applicants will deliver counseling, technical
support, financial skills development, comprehensive business
evaluations, and mentorship to veterans, transitioning service
members, Reserve and National Guard members, and military spouses
aiming to launch or expand their small businesses.
Organizations across Arkansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania, South Florida, and Puerto Rico may apply for a
portion of the total $1.1 million in funding available for this
program in Fiscal Year 2024.
Each award is made for a base project period of 8 months, with
four 12-month option periods, starting Sept. 1, 2024. Additional
information about the funding opportunity, including specific
coverage areas and instructions on how to apply, can be found
at www.grants.gov and by searching “SB-OVVB-24-001.”
Applications submitted via other media, including SBA’s
website, will be rejected and will not be evaluated.
Applications must be submitted via grants.gov no later
than 11:50 p.m. EST on Friday, July 19, 2024.
The SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development will
host information sessions on the funding opportunity via this
Microsoft Teams link or this call-in number (202-765-1264;
access code: 265 542 768#, phone conference ID: 736 752 338#) at
the following times:
- Monday, June 24: 4-5
p.m. ET
- Monday, July 15: 2-3
p.m. ET
Please direct all questions about the VBOC funding opportunity
to Tangela Liddell at tangela.liddell@sba.gov. For issues
with grants.gov, please call the support line at 1-800-518-4726 or
email.
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About the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business
DevelopmentThe SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development
(OVBD) works through the SBA’s extensive resource partner network,
which includes Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, Women’s
Business Centers, and 28 VBOCs located throughout the nation. VBOCs
are also the leading partner in hosting the “Boots to Business” and
“Boots to Business Reboot” programs, which offer courses on
entrepreneurship on military installations and in local
communities. Since the program’s inception in 2013, Boots to
Business has trained and graduated more than 200,000 service
members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military
spouses. For more information on the resources available for
veteran entrepreneurs, visit sba.gov/veterans.
About the U.S. Small Business AdministrationThe U.S. Small
Business Administration helps power the American dream of business
ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small
businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the
SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the
resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their
businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers
services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and
partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more,
visit www.sba.gov.
Christine Saah Nazer
U.S. Small Business Administration
202-756-0304
Christine.SaahNazer@sba.gov
Han Nguyen
U.S. Small Business Administration
202-756-0304
han.nguyen@sba.gov
Rebecca Galanti
U.S. Small Business Administration
202-756-0304
rebecca.galanti@sba.gov
Jeffrey Alexander
U.S. Small Business Administration
202-756-0304
Jeffrey.Alexander@sba.gov