SBA: Funding Awarded to Organizations Delivering Entrepreneurship Training to Service-Disabled Veterans

The  U.S. Small Business Administration this week announced $300,000 in grants has been awarded to four organizations offering entrepreneurship training to service-disabled veterans.

The funding opportunity, offered by SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development, supports each organization’s programs for service-disabled veterans planning to start a new business or expand and diversify existing small businesses. Each awardee was chosen based on their demonstrated history of and commitment to providing training programs and resources to service-disabled veterans.

“Service-disabled veteran small business owners bring a unique and valued skill set to entrepreneurship,” said SBA Acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton. “Funding these organizations involved in helping service-disabled veterans establish successful businesses will go a long way toward securing the future for these veterans and their families.”    

The four awardees are:

• Riata Center for Entrepreneurship, Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, Oklahoma): Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) – $75,000.

VEP opens the door to small business ownership by developing skills needed to create and sustaining a business, while coordinating the offering of additional programs and services for service-disabled veterans.

• Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (Syracuse, New York): Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) – $100,000.

The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities at Syracuse University combines entrepreneurial education with hands-on experience. The program curriculum is designed to take service-disabled veterans through the stages of venture creation, while providing the training, professional networks and support necessary to successfully launch a business. 

• Saint Joseph’s University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania): Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) – $50,000.

Saint Joseph’s University’s program is designed to provide the tools, education and mentoring necessary for post-9/11 disabled veterans to start or grow their businesses.

• Dog Tag, Inc. (Washington, D.C.) – $75,000

Dog Tag, Inc., is an educational program for transitioning service members, service-disabled veterans, and military spouses seeking to launch small business ventures.  The program combines a classroom component taught at Georgetown University and an opportunity to experience small business ownership at Dog Tag Bakery in Washington, D.C.

The SBA will celebrate service-disabled veterans, as well as all-era veterans, service members, and military spouses during National Veterans Small Business Week, Nov. 4-8, 2019.  

SBA district offices and resource partners will host events nationwide connecting current and aspiring veteran business owners to entrepreneurship resources.  Celebrate NVSBW by visiting www.sba.gov/vetbiz.

To learn more about the SBA’s  small business startup and expansion resources for veterans, visit www.sba.gov/veterans.