By Debbie Gregory.

For many veterans, entrepreneurship has proven to be a viable next career path as the experience, discipline, and work ethic learned in the military provides a competitive edge for starting a business.

The Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program is currently accepting applications for the pilot program, which will launch its first phase in March. The statewide initiative offers qualified veterans the opportunity to receive an accelerated entrepreneurship education at no cost.

Veterans Florida, a non-profit created by the Florida Legislature to attract and retain veterans, selected the University of West Florida, through its Florida SBDC Network and Military Veterans Resource Center, to administer the program.

In order to meet the program requirements, veterans must have been either honorably discharged, current National Guardsmen or Reservists, or active duty within one year of separation.  Also required is Florida residency, and of course, a strong interest in entrepreneurship.

The first phase of the program consists of an eight-week online class,which will provide participants with a strong business foundation.

The next phase consists of six days (over three consecutive weekends) of on-site training at one of the five participating institutions of higher education: The University of West Florida, University of North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Atlantic University, and Hillsborough Community College. All travel expenses will be covered for participants.

The final phase of the program consists of six-months of ongoing mentorship with Florida SBDC Network business consultants.

The Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program is funded through a $1 million appropriation by the Florida Legislature.

“Veterans possess many of the skills necessary to be successful entrepreneurs,” said Bobby Carbonell, Executive Director of Veterans Florida. “The technical and financial skills provided from this program, along with the motivation, confidence, attention to detail and problem solving skills they bring, will ensure veterans achieve their vision of the American Dream, owning their own business.”

Space is limited. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2016. For more information, and to apply, please visit www.FloridaVetBiz.org.

Owning your own business, being your own boss – it’s the American dream. You can see it every Friday night on Shark Tank, or in commercials for Small Business Saturdays. It’s no surprise that military veterans make excellent entrepreneurs because of the skills they gained while serving. And in a challenging economy when jobs for military veterans may be scarce, a great option for veterans is to start their own business.

Entrepreneurs can be at the helm of a mom & pop corner store, or a major corporation like Enterprise Rental Car or Starbucks. But just because you have many of the required skills to be an entrepreneur, that doesn’t guarantee success.

A military veteran benefit for entrepreneurs comes in the form of a boost from the VA when starting or growing a business. While everyone knows that a major veteran benefit is education for veterans, many may not know that the VA will pay for other programs. Education for veterans offered by Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States, is one such program.

Entrepreneurship training through the SBDC allows eligible service members and veterans to use VA education benefits to take courses they offer. SBDCs can help you plan your veteran finances with business plan development, procurement, market research, lending assistance and more.

Those who are eligible to receive reimbursement for approved entrepreneurship courses include those eligible for any of the following VA Education Programs:

• Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty
• Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve
• Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program
• The Post-9/11 GI Bill

For additional information on using your military veteran benefits with SBDCs, visit the VA Entrepreneurship Training Web page.

To locate course offerings near you, or view training opportunities on the web, contact the Small Business Development Center directly athttp://www.sba.gov/sbdc/ or by phone at 800-8 ASK SBA.

Florida-based woman, veteran and minority small business owners in the panhandle are invited to the Supplier Diversity Exchange.

This FREE event offers training, workshops and presentations by professionals from the Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Center, local Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) business owners, as well as representatives from state, local and regional government entities.

Topics, presented by various experts, will include:

• Certification documentation review
• Loans for your small business
• federal small business certifications for woman, veterans and minorities
• Best practices of a CBE to win government work
• How certified state vendors can get more from state resources
• And much more

Previously known as the OSD MatchMaker events, the Supplier Diversity Exchange offers a full day of networking, customized training and presentations. The afternoon will offer the opportunity for small business owners and purchasing representatives from state, local and regional government entities to meet one-on-one – following a customized introduction session for all attendees.

The event will run from 8 a.m. through 4:15 p.m. on February 11, 2016.

Procurement representatives, please register before Feb. 8 and check in at the event no later than 1 p.m. The registration process will ask about carpool interest.

Come experience a new kind of networking event from OSD!

Registration closes at midnight on Feb. 8.

The one-on-one appointment forms will only be available for those agencies registered online before registration is closed.

Please visit the Office of Supplier Diversity website for more information. For questions, please contact our office in Tallahassee at 850-487-0915.

The Veterans Launching Ventures (VLV) program provides the skills and support that veterans need in order to seize entrepreneurial opportunities and launch small businesses if they so choose. It is offered by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s nationally ranked Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. One of its advantages over other veteran programs is that VLV veterans are each matched with a mentor who will assist and guide them for a period of 10 months following the completion of the 10-week course.

This unique program combines in-person instruction with online education to teach students the fundamental entrepreneurial skills required in today’s business environment, as well as the competencies needed to launch a new business. Particular emphasis is placed on developing a robust marketing plan as well as a realistic business plan to help the veteran make an informed decision to start a business or assist and prepare the student for the general business environment.   A team of experienced faculty and successful entrepreneurs will work with the veterans, providing an interactive and informative experience. Over a 10-week period, they will introduce entrepreneurship ideas and concepts, and show how to apply them to potential business opportunities.

This certificate course will be taught at an undergraduate level and includes three workshops. Following a half-day introductory workshop and a lunch reception, the program will be taught online and facilitated by FDU instructors. The second workshop will take place at week 5 during which all students will present their marketing plans to the instructors and other students. The online instruction continues for 3 more weeks during which the focus is on developing a business plan. Week 9 allows the students to finalize their presentations with the assistance of instructors by phone and mentors by phone or in person (by week 9 each student will have been assigned a mentor to work with the student). The third workshop will take place in week 10 during which there will be in-person, individual final presentations by the students to the panel (which includes the student’s mentor), feedback, and “next steps” planning.

The graduation and reception will take place at the end of the presentations on the final day; it will include the instructors, guest speakers, business leaders, and mentors. Included in the program is a complimentary admission to a full year of the Rothman Institute’s popular entrepreneurship and innovation events (a $900 value).

The program is free and open to all veterans as well as their spouses and/or children. The cost of the program is being fully supported by the generous support from The Walmart Foundation, TD Bank, Bank of America, American Legion Post 43, and Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Silberman College of Business. A refundable deposit of $175 will be required of veterans who participate in the program.   This deposit will be secured by credit card or check, and will be returned to the veterans who successfully complete the course. The next in-person class begins on March 31^st, 2016 in Madison, NJ. A strictly online version will also be available for veterans this coming spring. For additional information visit: http://fdu.edu/vlv

VAMBOA Joins Forces with the National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC) to Advance Vet Owned Businesses

The Veteran and Military Business Owners Association (VAMBOA), a 501(c)6 non-profit trade association, is proud to join forces with the National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC), the leading third party certification organization for veteran owned businesses. Together, the two organizations are working towards advancing certification for service disabled and veteran owned businesses (SD/VOBs).

VAMBOA founder Debbie Gregory said, “Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who have worn our country’s uniform. In the private sector, veterans are 45 percent more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed. Moreover, with nearly one in ten small businesses being veteran-owned, it is up to all of us to support them and contribute to their successes.”

The NVBDC, a 501(c)3 non-profit, is also committed to growing veteran owned businesses, and to that end has created a nationally recognized certification program via an easy and intuitive web based interface to complete the certification process.

Keith King, NVBDC president said, “We set out to build the ‘Gold Standard’ certification program for our fellow SD/VOBs, and we have done that. With the support and endorsement of GM, AT&T, Kellogg’s, Ford, Magna International, 3M, CPI, Consumers Energy and many more corporations, we are proud to provide an opportunity for VAMBOA members and our certified SD/VOBs to work with America’s leading corporations.

About VAMBOA
VAMBOA’s mission is to ensure the development, growth and prosperity of veteran owned businesses of all sizes. VAMBOA’s “Vet Owned” seal symbolizes the talent, dedication, leadership and courage of these special Americans who currently serve or have served in our nation’s Armed Forces. Membership is in the 501(c) 6 trade association is free. If you would like to sign up for membership, please visit https://vamboa.org. VAMBOA relies on corporate sponsorship. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please call Debbie Gregory at (877) 850-9800.

About NVBDC
The NVBDC’s principal goals are to promote business opportunities for SD/VOBs within commercial and government markets; to support the interests of all Veteran Owned Businesses; to facilitate interaction between VOBs, government, and all other businesses in support of business initiatives for Veterans; and to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information between its members, government agencies and industry through networking, committees, meetings, conferences and visits to government and industry facilities. The NVBDC is the certification body for SD/VOB’s that ensures that credible documentation exists of a business’ veteran status, ownership and control.

Historically the Industry Supplier Diversity programs have relied on non-government organizations to provide them with independent third party certification. The Government controlled Center for Veteran Enterprise does not verify MEDIUM or LARGE companies, thereby denying them a formal veteran business recognition. The NVBDC certifies all sizes of veteran businesses. Industry can be positive that a SD/VOB certified by the NVBDC is in fact an owned, operated and controlled veteran business.