Boots to Business is an introduction to starting a business for veterans and transitioning military. The entrepreneurial education and training program is offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP).

Speaking at a recent “Boots to Business” boot camp, James Williams, the lead economic development specialist for the Richmond, Virginia District Office of the SBA, told the story about a group of his peers who sold sandwiches to pay for college tuition.

“We laughed at them,” he said. “Fast forward to today — they’re called Subway.”

“Boots to Business” is part of a push to better prepare troops for life after the military and improve TAP, the target of many a veteran’s distain for what has previously been considered to be a superficial approach to transition. Formerly aimed only at troops close to separation, the program was recently opened to all veterans and troops, regardless of how much time they have left in the service.

Williams said that “Boots to Business” serves as a reality check about the very difficult road ahead for anyone starting a business. He added that the structure and discipline troops learn while in the armed forces serves them well in business, but that there’s often an adjustment to leaving the military bubble, with its free health care, readily available services and housing stipends.

“One of the big hurdles is becoming acclimated to civilian life again,” he said. “They have been in a protected kind of life, separated from the general population — some of them have separation anxiety.”

“What we’re really looking to do is give them a vehicle by which they can think about, ‘What is the feasibility of my dream?’ ” he added. “In the end, if you decide, ‘This isn’t for me,’ that’s still a success.”

The Veteran and Military Business Owners Association (VAMBOA) is a non-profit business trade association that promotes and assists Veteran Business Owners, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (SDVOB) and Military Business Owners. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and responsible for job generation. That is why VAMBOA provides its members with Business Coaching, Contracting Opportunities, a Blog that provides information, Networking contacts and other resources. Membership is FREE to Veterans. Join Now!

Boots to Business: VAMBOA: By Debbie Gregory

By Debbie Gregory.

When President Obama signed an act to encourage and equip veterans who want to start their own small businesses, the goal was to help veterans navigate financial barriers by waiving the upfront guarantee fee for veterans applying for 7(a) express loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA), thus helping recently discharged service members and other veterans with opportunities to start new businesses.

With 21 million veterans living in the United States, the unemployment rate among this population is substantially higher than the national average. Because of this challenging statistic, more veterans are exploring self-employment opportunities.

The bill, introduced by House Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH), has received praise from lenders and veterans alike.

“Our veterans are as entrepreneurial minded as anyone else in the world,” said Chabot. “Think about all that’s required to launch a new business:  strategic planning, tactical expertise, dogged perseverance, and the ability to adjust plans to overcome new challenges at a moment’s notice. This is the American warfighter. Making sure they can access the resources needed to start their own business and build up the communities they’ve protected will do more than just create jobs – it will help them successfully transition into civilian life.”

Rich Bradshaw, President of Specialized Lending at United Community Bank, Blairsville, GA said, “As a lender, a veteran, and an Air Force Academy graduate, helping veterans make a life for themselves and their families once they return home from service is very personal to me. With more veterans returning to American soil, it is essential we do everything we can to bring down barriers to obtaining access to capital as they come back from doing everything they can to protect our country.  Waiving fees for veteran 7(a) borrowers encourages them to open small businesses, create jobs, and boost the economy.”

According to the Small Business Administration, an estimated 10% of all small businesses across the US are veteran-owned.

By Debbie Gregory.

The U.S. Army’s search for a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) replacement is over. The Oshkosh Corporation, formerly Oshkosh Truck, more about has won the $6.75 billion contract to build almost 17,000 new light trucks. The new vehicles will replace the Army and Marine Corps’ aging Humvees.

Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corp. beat out both Lockheed Martin Corp. and AM General LLC.

The order will result in the production of as many as 55,000 JLTVs over the next 25 years.

Founded in 1917 as the Wisconsin Duplex Auto Company, the company was created to build a severe-duty four-wheel-drive truck before moving into the military vehicle arena.

In 1945, the company received the first of many military honors when the “E” award is presented by the Army and Navy for excellence in wartime production. In 1953, the first Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle was delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1968, the MB-5 manufactured for the U.S. Navy and mainly used for flight deck firefighting, launched the company into a position of world leadership in the ARFF industry.

Over the years, the company has built other military vehicles, such as the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks, the P-19 ARFF, the R-11, and the MTVR.

The new trucks will replace many of the 120,000 Humvee trucks built by AM General that have been worn out by use in Iraq and Afghanistan. The updated design promises greater protection against mines and roadside bombs, as well as more range and durability to move troops and gear. They are also lighter than the Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles introduced in Iraq.

News of the contract resulted in a 12% jump in the company’s stock.

VAMBOA proudly serves all Veteran and Military Business Owners.

Those who own a small business — or want to start one — now have a one-stop source of information about the how-tos.

California’s Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development this month set up a website dedicated to answering basic questions about starting, running or relocating a business.

Users also can use the portal to obtain licenses and permits, as well as to learn about state and local regulations and find links to additional information on government incentives.

The site is at www.businessportal.ca.gov and is accessible on both iOS and Android cell phones and other devices.

Reach Rowena Coetsee at 925-779-7141. Follow her at Twitter.com/RowenaCoetsee

source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_28482650/website-set-up-help-small-businesses?source=rss

By Debbie Gregory.

There are a number of states that have laws or executive orders that aim to assist Veteran owned businesses. Some states, such as California and New York, require a percentage of state contracts be set aside for businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.

Ohio lawmakers are currently considering a bill to provide a bid preference of 5 percent or $5, 000 to Veteran-owned businesses competing for state contracts.

State Rep. Niraj Antani, the Republican joint sponsor of the bipartisan bill, rightfully feels that Veterans deserve a preference for having served their country.
“It’s our moral obligation to do what we can to help them,” Antani said.

The bill has had its first hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee. It will require at least one more hearing before a committee vote can be made on sending it to the full House.

According to a 2007 U.S. Census Bureau survey, there are more than 88,000 Veteran-owned businesses in Ohio and 2.4 million nationally.

The Ohio Small Business Development Center at Wright State focuses on the Veteran business community by helping Veterans learn about entrepreneurial opportunities.  They also assist Veterans by providing resources and contact information for employment options and other veteran related services.

It is widely accepted that skills such as leadership and discipline gained through military training make Veterans great entrepreneurs.

“Veterans are a cornerstone of small business ownership,” said Barbara Carson, acting associate administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Veterans Business Development. She added that Veteran business owners have helped build one of the longest periods of economic growth in U.S. history, following World War II.

Bidding preferences and set-asides for Veterans have sometimes drawn opposition from minority- and women-owned business groups concerned that adding Veterans might dilute their opportunities and slow some efforts. But most Americans will agree that the Veteran set-asides are an earned right for service to our country.

The Veteran and Military Business Owners Association (VAMBOA) is a non-profit business trade association that promotes and assists Veteran Business Owners, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (SDVOB) and Military Business Owners. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and responsible for job generation. That is why VAMBOA provides its members with Business Coaching, Contracting Opportunities, a Blog that provides information, Networking contacts and other resources. Membership is FREE to Veterans. Join Now!

VAMBOA: Hats off to Ohio Lawmakers: By Debbie Gregory