Strengthening Central California's #VetBiz & Helping Heroes Become Entrepreneurs

Veteran-owned small businesses are America’s economic heroes, employing more than 5 million workers and generating $1.3 trillion in total sales, they help power our nation’s economy.

On Wednesday, November 13, from 4pm - 7pm, in support of National Veteran Small Business Week, the SBA’s Fresno District Office is proud to be one of many speakers at Vet Biz Rally Point Summit a free event to help our region’s heroes – including active duty military, reservists, veterans and military spouses – learn how to become entrepreneurs & small business owners. Across the 15 county San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast region, the SBA has resources that support and strengthen Veteran business communities.

?Finding a lender can be daunting, so the SBA’s Lender Match online tool helps connect busy military entrepreneurs to potential sources of funding.? With Lender Match, a business owner answers some questions and provides information about their capital needs, then hears back from potential lenders in 48 hours.? Small businesses with an essential employee who is a military reservist called to active duty may be eligible for a Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the SBA, to help with operating expenses

For Veteran owned businesses interested in making the government their customer, the SBA has a variety of services to help them succeed in the Federal marketplace. In April 2024, SBA announced that Federal spending on Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) exceeded its 3% goal, reaching 5%, and generating $31.9 billion in procurement, a $3.8 billion spending increase compared to the previous year.??SBA experts will speak at Vet Biz Rally Point Summit about how Veteran entrepreneurs can get certifications from SBA including Veteran Owned business, 8a, HUBZone and Woman Owned to give them a competitive advantage when bidding on Federal contracts.

?The Valley’s thousands of service members, veterans, and military spouses know a lot about hard work and dedication, both of which are required to start a small business. Time, effort, and grit – combined with support from the many local organizations which serve Veterans, including the Northern California Veteran Business Outreach Center, Valley Community Small Business Development Center, ?Central Valley Women’s Entrepreneur Center and Central Valley SCORE– help military members launch and maintain profitable companies. Successful business ownership is lifechanging - for veterans, their families, customers and the community. ?

During National Veteran Small Business Week and every day of the year, the SBA and community organizations support military members and their families as they start up, scale up, and succeed as small business owners, strengthening the communities that help heroes become entrepreneurs.

Dawn Golik is Director of the Fresno SBA District serving the 15 counties of California’s San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast.?

###

#veterans #milspouse #entrepreneur #NVSBW #capital #contracting