Office of Veterans Business Development
Veterans Business Outreach Program
The Veterans Business Outreach Program (VBOP) is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and mentoring, and referrals for eligible veterans owning or considering starting a small business. The SBA has 15 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC).
Services Provided by the Centers
Pre-Business Plan Works:
VBOCs conduct entrepreneurial development workshops dealing specifically with the major issues of self-employment. An important segment of these workshops entails the usage of the Internet as a tool for developing and expanding businesses. Each client is afforded the opportunity to work directly with a business counselor.
Concept Assessments:
VBOCs assist clients in assessing their entrepreneurial needs and requirements.
Business Plan Preparations:
VBOCs assist clients in developing and maintaining a five-year business plan. The business plan includes such elements as the legal form of the business, equipment requirements and cost, organizational structure, a strategic plan, market analysis, and a financial plan. Financial plans include financial projections, budget policies, and funding requirements.
Comprehensive Feasibility Analysis:
VBOCs provide assistance in identifying and analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the business plan to increase the probability of success. The results of the analysis are unutilized to revise the strategic planning portion of the business plan.
Entrepreneurial Training and Counseling:
VBOCs, working with other SBA resource partners, target entrepreneurial training projects and counseling sessions tailored specifically to address the needs and concerns of the service-disabled veteran entrepreneur.
Mentorship:
VBOCs conduct, as appropriate, on-site visits with clients to ensure adherence to their business plans. Additionally, VBOCs review monthly financial statements to determine whether a revision of the business plan is warranted or that desired results are being attained.
Other Business Development Related Services:
VBOCs also provide assistance and training in such areas as international trade, franchising, Internet marketing, accounting, etc.
CENTER LOCATIONS AND AREAS OF COVERAGE
REGION I
Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut
Phone: 617-938-3933; Fax: 617-507-7799; Email: wwise@nebrc.org: Webpage: http://www.nevbrc.org
REGION II
New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
Phone: 631-370-8889 or Toll-free 1-800-732-7232; Fax: 614-507-7799; Email: Michael.Gragg@Farmingdale.Edu; Webpage: http://www.NYVETBIZ.com
The New Jersey Veterans Business Outreach Center - Rutgers Business School
New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
Phone: 973-353-3429; Fax: 973-353-3129; Email: ewikstern@business.rutgers.edu; Webpage: www.NJVetBiz.com
REGION III
Hampton Roads Veterans Business Outreach Center/Old Dominion University
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, District of Columbia
Phone: - 757-683-4793; Fax: 757-683-5509; Email: csageste@odu.edu ; Webpage: http://www.hrvboc.com
REGION IV
The University of West Florida in Pensacola
Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina
Phone: 1-800-542-7232 or 850-747-3201, ext 19; Fax: 850-271-1109; Email: vets@vboc.org; Webpage: http://vboc.org
The Veterans Business Outreach Center @ Fayetteville State University
Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina
Phone: 910-672-1107; Fax: 910-672-2122; Email: rrehder@uncfsu.edu; Webpage: http://www.fsuvboc.com
REGION V
VetBiz Central, Inc
Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana
Phone: 810-767-8387; Fax: 810-767-8662; Email: matt@vetbizcentral.org; Webpage: http://www.vetbizcentral.org
REGION VI
The University of Texas - Pan American
Texas. New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma
Phone: 956-665-7567; Fax: 956-665-7561; Email: cgutierrez@utpa.edu; Webpage: http://www.utpa.edu/vboc
New Mexico Veterans Business Outreach Center
Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma
Phone: 505-841-4783; Fax: 505-841-5560; Email: Joseph.Long@state@nm.us; Webpage: http://nmvboc.org
Louisiana Veterans Business Outreach Center
Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma
Phone: 337-296-8580: Fax: 337-246-3334; Email: swlabdc@charter.net; Webpage: www.lvboc.net
REGION VII
Veterans Advocacy Foundation, Inc.
Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska
REGION VIII
Rocky Boys Veteran's Association
Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota
Phone: 406-395-5348; Fax: 406-395-4503; Email: cparker@rockyboyveterans.org; Webpage: http://www.rockyboyveterans.org
REGION IX
Vietnam Veterans of California - VBOC
California, Arizona, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada
Phone: 916-393-1690; Fax: 916-393-1693; Email: nharris@vietvets.org ; Webpage: http://www.vboc-ca.org
Guam Veterans Business Outreach Center
California, Arizona, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada
Phone 671-475-4900; Fax: 671-475-4901; Email: frank@guamvboc.com; Webpage: www.guamvboc.com
REGION X
Seattle Business Assistance Center
Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon
Phone: 206-324-4330, ext. 139; Fax 206-324-4322; Email: lynnt@seattleccd.com; Webpage: http://seattleccd.com/drupal/VBOC
