Press release MA 23-05

U.S. Small Business Administration to Host Virtual Military Spouse Entrepreneur Summit May 25

WASHINGTON The U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Veterans Business Development will host a virtual Military Spouse Entrepreneur Summit in collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes on Thursday, May 25, from 1-3:30 p.m. ET. This event furthers the priorities set forth by First Lady Jill Biden's Joining Forces initiative.

This free event will connect military spouses with resources and information to help them start or grow a small business. Various panels will highlight entrepreneurship training and counseling opportunities and introduce peer-to-peer networking. The summit takes place in May, which is Military Appreciation Month, and celebrates Military Spouse Appreciation Day on May 12.

The event will open with video-recorded remarks from SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. Panel speakers will include representatives from the SBA, Hiring Our Heroes (HOH), Department of Labor Transition Employment Assistance for Military Spouses and Caregivers (TEAMS), Department of Defense Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO), Network, Blue Star Families, D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), Joining Forces, military spouses, and military spouse business owners.

WHAT:                 SBA 2023 Virtual Military Spouse Entrepreneurship Summit

WHEN:                May 25, 2023, 1-3:30 p.m. ET

WHO:                   Isabella Casillas Guzman, Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration

Timothy Green, Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Veteran's Business                 Development, U.S. Small Business Administration

Tom Sullivan, Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Policy

Elizabeth L. O'Brien, Executive Director, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes

                                Other speakers and notable business leaders TBA

HOW:                   Registration is required. Click here to register or visit: https://bit.ly/SBAMilSpouseSummit.

MEDIA RSVP:  Please RSVP at Press_Office@sba.gov with the reporter's name and press outlet by 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday, May 15, 2023. Additionally, media interested in one-on-one interviews should submit requests in advance. To join the conversation on social media, use #SBAMilSpouseSummit. 

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Co-sponsorship Authorization #23-23-C. SBA's participation in this Cosponsored Activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products, or services of any Cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact: Stan Kurtz, 202-997-6452, stanley.kurtz@sba.gov. 

About Hiring Our Heroes

Bridging the Civilian-military Divide - Hiring Our Heroes works with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's vast network of state and local chambers and strategic partners from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to bridge the civilian-military divide within the business community. Our goal is to ensure veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses are able to utilize our resources to connect with employers no matter where they are in the world.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

Media contacts

U.S. Small Business Administration