Support Veteran-Owned Businesses in March and Beyond

As Veterans, all of us have invested a significant portion of our lives in serving our country.

After leaving the service, many Veterans choose to continue to invest in America by starting a business. In fact, almost six percent of all businesses in the United States are Veteran-owned and they employ over four million people.

Running a business is difficult and many Veteran business owners never make it past their first year in operation. Just as we supported each other in uniform, we should all strive to assist Veterans as they pursue their dream of business ownership.

During the week of March 1 through March 7, we celebrate National Invest in Veterans Week to recognize "Vetrepeneurs" and encourage everyone to support these businesses.

There are many ways that each of us can contribute to their success, including:
• Shopping at Veteran-owned businesses. Search for Veteran-owned stores and services in your area.
• Promote Veteran-owned businesses to your friends and on social media.
• Lend your knowledge or skills to a Veteran-owned business.
• If you own a business yourself, partner with a Veteran-owned business that offers products or services that complement your offerings.

Consider Starting a Business after Separation

If you are nearing separation from the military, explore the possibility of starting your own business. The organizational skills, dedication, and perseverance that you developed in the military could help you run your own business.

There are many programs available from the Veterans Administration (VA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that can help you succeed.

If you have a Veteran-Owned Small Business, you may qualify for advantages when bidding on government contracts and access to other resources and support through the Vets First Verification Program. The program is run by the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU).

Find out more at https://rly.pt/vob

The Office of Veterans Business Development (OVDB) of the SBA provides access to capital and preparation for small business opportunities.

Devoted exclusively to promoting veteran entrepreneurship, the OVBD facilitates the use of all U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) programs by veterans, service-disabled veterans, reservists, active-duty service members, transitioning service members, and their dependents or survivors.

To explore the wide range of programs and services available to you, visit https://rly.pt/3IZzzGj

Whether you choose to start your own business or purchase products or services from Veteran-owned businesses, make every effort to invest in Veterans. The success of Veteran-owned businesses improves our economy and benefits our brothers-in-arms.