Each year, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps more than 200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans, and National Guard and Reserve service members, and military spouses start and grow their small businesses.?  The SBA will be adding six Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC) to the existing 13, bringing the nationwide total to19.

Each VBOC will provide entrepreneurial training, comprehensive business assessment, and mentoring to active duty service members, veterans and service-disabled veterans, National Guard and Reservists, and military spouses interested in starting a small business.

The new VBOCs will be located as follows:

• Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE), Providence, RI
• University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
• Georgia Southern University Research & Services Foundation, Statesboro, GA
• Cochise County Community College District, Sierra Vista, AZ
• University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
• MiraCosta College, Oceanside, CA

Existing VBOCs are located as follows:

• Veterans Business Outreach Center at Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
• Big Sky Economic Development Authority, Billings, MT
• WBDC Chicago, Chicago, IL
• Community Business Partnership, Springfield, VA
• Hampton Roads Veterans Business Outreach Center, Norfolk, VA
• Veterans Business Outreach Center at Gulf Coast State College, Panama City, FL
• Veterans Business Outreach Center at Fayetteville State Univ., Fayetteville, NC
• VetBiz Central, Inc., Flint, MI
• University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX
• New Mexico Veterans Business Outreach Center, Albuquerque, NM
• Veterans Business Resource Center, St. Louis, MO
• Business Impact NW, Seattle, WA
• Veterans Business Outreach Center – Region IX, Sacramento, CA

VBOC locations were selected based on “Boots to Business” program demand, military installation, and transitioning population data.

VBOCs support transitioning service members as they begin self-employment or entrepreneurship. Part of the VBOC funding is used to cover costs involved in doing outreach to increase participation in the Boots to Business entrepreneurship training program on military installations in the U.S. and its territories.

Veterans business development is available in each state at SBA District Offices and at VBOCs located throughout the U.S.  To learn more about additional opportunities for veterans available through the SBA, visit www.sba.gov/vets.

In Recognition of Military Veterans Appreciation Month

The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)

HUD Veterans Affinity Group

hosts Veterans Small Business Forum

‘Overcoming Barriers to Becoming a Successful Veteran Entrepreneur in the Federal Marketplace’

Keynote Speaker

Jennifer Carroll

Former Lieutenant Governor Florida

Naval Officer (Ret)

Monday, May 12, 2014

9 am – 1 pm

HUD Brooke – Mondale Auditorium

451 7th Street, S.W.

South Visitors Entrance

Washington, DC 20410

All are Welcomed to Attend

You Must Register not later than May 7th

If Participating by Phone

Send email to Keyvi.Boyer@gmail.com

(805) 399-1200

Code 877589#

(Call in lines will open up at 945 am following onsite reception)

Please be mindful to mute your phone using *6 when listening then you may press *6 again to unmute when you are speaking.  Thank You!

Each year since 1963, the president of the United States has issued a proclamation that calls for a National Small Business Week. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) promotes National Small Business Week as a way to bring into the limelight the impact that outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners and others have had on the nation’s economy. These men and women strive to grow small businesses, which in turn helps to create jobs, drive innovation, and increase the nation’s economic competitiveness.

For this year’s National Small Business Week, the SBA has planned several events that will take place across the country in order to engage the small business community and emphasize their importance to America’s economy. These events will include activities designed to engage attendees, including panels and forums that will discuss small business trends, networking events, award ceremonies and informational seminars.

The planned events are scheduled for the following cities:

May 12- San Francisco, CA:

This event will involve speakers from the small business, government, consumer and high-tech communities. The event will be held at Twitter’s headquarters and will include instruction on how to utilize social media to help drive your business growth. Click here for more information or to register for the San Francisco event.

May 13- Kansas City, MO:

This event will include networking opportunities, discussion panels and information sessions. It will be held at the Burns and McDonnell headquarters. Click here for more information or to register for the Kansas City event.

May 15- Boston, MA:

This event will include discussion panels, matchmaking sessions and information sessions. It will be held at the Microsoft New England R&D Center. Click here for more information or to register for the Boston event.

May 15- Washington DC:

This event will include networking sessions, discussion panels and guest speakers. It will be held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

May 16- Washington DC:

This event will include an awards breakfast, networking sessions, resource expo, awards luncheon and information sessions. It will be held at the FHI360 Conference Center. Click here for more information or to register for either day of the Washington D.C. events.

Throughout National Small Business Week, there will also be webinars and other live-streamed events.  Interested individuals can register online at www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek. For more information about National Small Business week visit the SBA’s website at www.sba.gov

VAMBOA: National Small Business Week May 12-16, 2014