By Debbie Gregory.

In Part 1 of this article, we provided six outstanding resources for veterans looking for grants or small business loans. Below are six more excellent resources as well as a few things to think on or plan for prior to submitting any application.

7.) Veteran Readiness and Employment

The Veteran Readiness and Employment program was designed for Service-Disabled Veterans who are unable to work at a traditional job. They offer assistance for those who would like to start their own business or receive new employment training.

8.) GrantWatch

GrantWatch is a free site that brings together all federal, regional, and local grants for small businesses, veterans, and nonprofits in one place. They update the site every few days.  It is a great place to keep an eye on for the newest veteran grant opportunities out there.

9.) Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan

The SBA offers what they call a Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan. This loan is for small businesses that are unable to meet their operating expenses due to the owner or key employee being called to active military duty. The loan program can provide up to $2 million dollars to cover working capital in order for the business to maintain operations until the service member returns from duty.

10.) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is managed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and is dedicated to helping veterans seek federal contracting opportunities. They also offer a wide variety of business resources for veteran entrepreneurs who need help starting, running, and financing their businesses. Additionally, they have a portal to help you find and apply for government contracts, locate franchising opportunities, and access other training and employment programs.

11.) VetFran

VetFran is a portal to help veterans find franchising opportunities and they can connect you to well over 600 different franchises. A lot of these franchise opportunities provide generous financial incentives for veterans and their spouses who are interested in entering a franchise system; incentives such as discounting the initial franchise fee.

12.) Boots to Business

Boots to Business is another program offered by the SBA as part of the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program. It is a series of free courses on entrepreneurship and how to successfully start and run a business.

A few thoughts before you apply for any veteran business grants

Applying for a grant is a process that takes a bit of time and a lot of paperwork. It is a good idea to be well prepared before you begin the process. Below are some things that you really need to keep in mind before you apply for a grant.

• Know and Understand Eligibility

Every single grant has its own set of eligibility requirements. You need to take the time to carefully look over the requirements of the grant you desire, prior to applying for to be sure that you qualify. For example, some programs are only open to veterans with honorable discharges, others are open to the veteran’s family members, some are only for service-disabled, while some for new entrepreneurs, etc. Read over the eligibility carefully as you narrow down your list for potential grants.

• Create a Schedule

Grant application and processing takes quite a bit of time and most are very competitive. It is a good idea to setup a reasonable schedule so you can plan ahead and get your application in well within the timeframe for applying.

Good luck!  VAMBOA wishes you great success in your endeavor.

VAMBOA, the Veterans and Military Business Owners Association hopes that this article has been valuable.   We work hard to bring you important, positive, helpful and timely information and are the “go to” online venue for Veteran and Military Business Owners.  VAMBOA is a non-profit trade association.   We do not charge members any dues or fees and members can also use our seal on their collateral and website.   If you are not yet a member, you can register here:

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By Debbie Gregory.

If you are looking to start a business, the odds are good that you will be looking for financing to get it off the ground. You can always apply for a loan or you can use your own personal credit cards or savings to fund your new business.  However, if you do not want to deal with debt, or you need to conserve your cash for another reason, you may want to consider applying for a grant.

There are quite a few small business grants out there offered by the government or nonprofit programs that you won’t be required to repay in the future. If your small business meets the criteria, you can apply and may receive the funding that you need.

Most grants are for specific business purposes or roles, so it is very important to understand the specifics of any small business grant you apply for. Do your research and become intimately involved with understanding the process and rules.

Is my business eligible for a small business grant?

Eligibility depends on quite a few factors, such as:

• Your business owner category
• The type of business you plan to open
• The type of grant you are looking to apply for
• The granting agency itself
• The location of your business
• More

For example, grants are set aside specifically for those with certain statuses, such as:

• A US veteran
• A woman
• A minority business owner
• Green businesses
• A Native American
• A person who identifies as LGBT
• Small nonprofit organizations
• More

If you or your business falls into a special category, it may increase your grant eligibility.

What Government grants are available for small businesses?

There are several places you can check for small business grants awarded by the federal government. The most well-known is the Small Business Administration (SBA), which is typically known for small business loans. Though they also offer grants directly and in partnership with other organizations. Visit the SBA’s website for more information and eligibility requirements.

Other federal government agencies and state and local agencies to check include:

• gov : This site gives a good overview of grants available, how to qualify and how to apply.
• SBIR and STTR grants : “Small Business Innovation Research” (SBIR) and “Small Business Technology Transfer” (STTR) grants are for entrepreneurs focused on developing technology for consumer use.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants: They provide grants to small businesses in biomedical technology research and development fields.
• USDA Rural Development Business Grants (RDBG) grants: They offer technical assistance grants to small rural businesses and cooperatives.

What other grants are available?

There are plenty of non-government grants out there for small business owners for startup or certain types of business development. Here are a few to consider:

• org: This site shares a wealth of accredited grant fund resources.
• Visa Everywhere Initiative : This is an annual contest sponsored by Visa which awards up to 150,000 in prizes and global recognition.
• FedEx Small Business Grant Contest : This contest is open to for-profit businesses that have been in business at least 6-months and have fewer than 99 employees. The award is up to $25,000 that the business can use for print and other business services.
• Patagonia Corporate Grant Program : This program is for innovative nonprofit organizations, in specific geographic locations, who work to preserve the environment. The program awards between $20,000 and $30,000.

We invite you to stay tuned for Part 2 of this mini-series on Small Business Grants.  In Part 2, we will review the application process and more.

VAMBOA, the Veterans and Military Business Owners Association, hopes that you have enjoyed these articles addressing Small Business Grants   We work very hard to bring our audience timely and valuable information.

VAMBOA does not charge members any dues or fees.  If you are not yet a member of VAMBOA, please join here:   https://vamboa.org/member-registration/

Members may use our seal on their web sites and collateral and will receive special discounts and other important information.