WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) this week announced that the Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership in Watervliet, N.Y., is the newest Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), after being awarded a $180 thousand grant through the VBOC grant funding competition.
The grant, offered by SBA’s Office of Veteran Business Development, enables each VBOC to 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 VBOC grant funding competition was open to eligible institutions of higher learning, private organizations or businesses, non-profit community-based organizations, state, local or tribal governmental agencies and non-profit organizations. The award is for an initial performance period of eight months with a 12-month option period.
“The SBA is excited to welcome the Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership to the VBOC network,” said Barbara Carson, Associate Administrator, SBA Office of Veterans Business Development. “The Arsenal will enhance SBA's contribution to the resources provided to active duty service members, veterans of all eras, members of the National Guard and Reserve and military spouses who aspire to be small business owners.”
Additional VBOCs located across the U.S. include:
- Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE), Providence, R.I.
- University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Georgia Southern University Research & Services Foundation, Statesboro, Ga.
- Cochise County Community College District, Sierra Vista, Ariz.
- University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas
- Mira Costa College, Carlsbad, Calif.
- Veterans Business Outreach Center at Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss.
- Big Sky Economic Development Authority, Billings, Mont.
- Women’s Business Development Center Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
- Community Business Partnership, Springfield, Va.
- Hampton Roads Veterans Business Outreach Center, Norfolk, Va.
- Veterans Business Outreach Center at Gulf Coast State College, Panama City, Fla.
- Veterans Business Outreach Center at Fayetteville State Univ., Fayetteville, N.C.
- VetBizCentral, Inc., Flint, Mich.
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas
- New Mexico Veterans Business Outreach Center, Albuquerque, N.M.
- Veterans Business Resource Center, St. Louis, Mo.
- Business Impact NW, Seattle, Wash.
- Veterans Business Outreach Center – Region IX, Sacramento, Calif.
States and regions are selected as potential VBOC sites based on “Boots to Business” program demand, number of military installations, and veteran population data.
The VBOCs are responsible for supporting transitioning service members as they embark on self-employment or entrepreneurship. Part of the VBOC funding is used to cover costs associated with the Boots to Business entrepreneurship training program on military installations in the U.S. and its territories.
The VBOCs are directed by the Small Business Act (Title 15 U.S.C. sec 637 (b)) to participate in the Defense Department’s Transition Assistance Program. Since 2013, the Boots to Business program has trained over 46,000 transitioning service members, Reservists and National Guard members, and military spouses. The VBOCs also counsel and mentor approximately 60,000 veteran clients each year.
Each year the 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. Small 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.
###
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012, has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. www.sba.gov