SBA Announces $4.9M in Grant Awards to Expand VBOC Network

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced nearly $4.9 million in grant awards over five years to establish new Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs) in Alaska, Florida and Louisiana, along with supporting satellite offices. The new centers will expand access to entrepreneurship training, counseling, and technical assistance at no cost to veterans, active-duty servicemembers, National Guard and Reserve members, military spouses, and eligible family members who want to start, grow, or expand a small business.

"Our veterans are among America's most capable entrepreneurs, and President Trump's America First agenda puts veterans and military families at the front of the line for opportunity," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "As small business owners, veterans are already powering America's manufacturing base, reinforcing the defense industrial base, and strengthening the supply chains that keep our country secure. By expanding Veterans Business Outreach Centers, the SBA is helping more veterans build on that legacy-turning service, skill, and leadership into ownership, growth, and prosperity here at home."

The State of Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs and Florida Is For Veterans Inc., doing business as Veterans Florida, each received $400,000 for the initial grant period. The Boot in Louisiana received $175,000.

The new VBOCs and satellite offices will serve veterans, transitioning servicemembers, and military spouses throughout their coverage areas, including through the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program. They will provide practical assistance at every stage of business ownership-from evaluating an idea and developing a business plan to accessing capital, marketing products and services, pursuing government contracts, and expanding operations.

Services available through the VBOCs include:

• Business planning: Providing veterans with training and counseling on accounting, financial planning, and management.
• Assistance accessing capital: Providing veterans with help understanding the capital available to them, as well as accessing financing, loans, and grants.
• Government contracting guidance: Providing training on veteran business certification and best practices for doing business with the government.
• Marketing and outreach: Providing marketing and outreach services to promote veteran-owned businesses in their communities and beyond.
• Transitioning: Providing Boots to Business instruction to help active-duty service members transition out of the military.

For more information or to find a VBOC near you, visit www.sba.gov/vboc. To learn more about SBA's programs for veterans, visit www.sba.gov/veterans.

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About the Office of Veterans Business Development

The SBA Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) works through SBA's extensive resource partner network, including 51 Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) locations throughout the nation. VBOCs are the leading partners in delivering the "Boots to Business (B2B)," "Boots to Business Reboot," and "Military Spouse Pathway to Business" programs-entrepreneurship courses offered on military installations and in local communities. Since B2B's inception in 2013, these programs have collectively trained and graduated nearly 260,000 service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses. OVBD's broader resource partner network also includes Small Business Development Centers, the SCORE mentoring program, and Women's Business Centers. For more information on the resources available for veteran entrepreneurs, visit sba.gov/veterans.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and 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.

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