SBA highlights resources for military-connected entrepreneurs during National Veterans Small Business Week
“Each year we celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week to honor America’s nearly two million veteran entrepreneurs who have answered our nation’s call to serve and protect us and are now making a difference every day for local communities and our nation’s economy,” said Administrator Guzman. “This week, and every week, the U.S. Small Business Administration is committed to doing its part to fulfill our responsibility to our veteran entrepreneurs by ensuring they can access the tools and resources they need to start, grow, and build resilient businesses.”
Read SBA Administrator Guzman’s full National Veterans Small Business Week announcement here.
During the week, SBA and its extensive partner network celebrate the strength and resilience of the Veteran community by hosting events across the country and sharing information about the resources available to veteran entrepreneurs.
Discover transition assistance resources like:
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Veterans Business Outreach Center designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling, and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard & Reserve members, and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business.
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Government Contracting Opportunities for Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small businesses.
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Boots to Business entrepreneurial program offered on military installations around the world and a training track of the U.S. Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program (TAP).
Join SBA Seattle for Operation Entrepreneur
Operation Entrepreneur is a free virtual event to connect and empower service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses during National Veterans Small Business Week.
Business Impact NW and the Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC) invite members of the military community to explore opportunities available to them and learn from their peers, network, and win prizes! Across four days of webinars, leading experts of military-connected small businesses will be sharing their resources, advice, and experience with attendees.
SBA Seattle District staff will join Operation Entrepreneur throughout the four-day event to present on small business topics that will help veteran-owned small business start, grow, and succeed. We hope to see you there!
Dennis Farrow, owner and president of Advanced Technology Construction (left), Makieda and Reno Hart, owners of Sgt Harts BBQ sauce (right)
Local Success Stories: Veteran entrepreneurs and their small business journeys
Advanced Technology Construction is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned general contracting company offering a wide variety of services including design, renovation, construction, and construction management services. As owner and president, Dennis Farrow found success through SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program and continues to grow his business today.
Makieda Hart launched Sgt. Hart’s BBQ sauce in 2018 as a way to share a longstanding family recipe created by her husband, Sgt. Reno Hart, nearly 20 years earlier. It was during their communal cookouts while stationed in Germany that Sgt. Hart’s sauce was first created, and friends and family never stopped asking for more, insisting it was a product worth selling. Since 2018, Sgt. Hart’s BBQ Sauce has developed into a full line of flavors and can now be found at weekly farmers’ markets across four counties, in local grocery stores, and available online.
October 27 is National Mentoring Day, and we recognize the tremendous value that our partner organizations provide to small businesses through mentoring, workshops, training and more. Read this article about the benefits of finding a business mentor (from SCORE.org) and check out these SBA Resource Partners that are ready to work with you to start or grow your small business.
SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, is dedicated to helping small businesses plan, launch, manage and grow. SCORE is a nonprofit organization that is driven to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and educational workshops.
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Small Business Development Centers provide counseling and training to small businesses including working with the SBA to develop and provide informational tools to support business start-ups and existing business expansion. Visit the Washington and Idaho Small Business Developemnt Centers to find a mentor near you.
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Big Recognition for Small Businesses
Are you our next award-winning small business? Do you know a small business entrepreneur that deserves to be celebrated? Nominations are open now for the 2023 National Small Business Awards.
The Seattle District will be recognizing winners in five categories:
- Small Business Person of the Year
- Exporter of the Year
- 8(a) Graduate of the Year
- Rural Small Business of the Year
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year
For questions about eligibility, nomination guidelines, and how to submit a nomination, please contact Neil Subhash, National Small Business Week coordinator for SBA Seattle at neil.subhash@sba.gov
Friday, October 8
9 – 11 a.m. | Digital Marketing to Grow Yoru Business
Monday, October 31
1 – 4 p.m. | Creating a Quick Business Plan in Three Hours
Thursday, November 3
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Business Expert Session: Seattle Labor Standards Ordinances 2022/2023 Overview*
Monday, November 7
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | National Veterans Small Business Week: Operation Entrepreneur Day 1
Tuesday, November 8
9 – 9:45 a.m. | Grow with a Pro (Tax Professional)*
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | National Veterans Small Business Week: Operation Entrepreneur Day 2
Wednesday, November 9
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | National Veterans Small Business Week: Operation Entrepreneur Day 3
Thursday, November 10
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Business Expert Session: Take Charge of Your Personal Credit*
4:30 – 6 p.m. | National Veterans Small Business Week: Operation Entrepreneur Day 4
*SBA’s participation or support is not an endorsement of any product, service, or entity
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