The accomplishments of Veteran small business owners around the country will be celebrated during National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) November 3-7.
U.S. Small Business Administration district offices and resource partners nationwide are hosting hundreds of local events, including: Boots to Business: Reboot classes; veteran access to capital workshops; and government contracting roundtables.
Veteran entrepreneurship workshops are also set for U.S. military installations in Germany and Korea. Friday, Nov. 7, ABC television hosts a special “Shark Tank” episode featuring veteran entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas. The episode airs at 9 p.m. EST.
“In a significant way, veteran small business owners continue to serve America in a big way by employing more than six million workers, running one of every 10 small companies and generating more than $1.2 trillion in receipts every year,” said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. “National Veterans Small Business Week is a great opportunity to expand the ranks of veteran entrepreneurship. We are proud of the men and women who continue to play such a critical role in the economic growth of our nation.”
“According to the most recent data, veterans are 45% more likely to be self-employed than non-veterans,” said SBA mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Natalia Olson-Urtecho. “With such a large concentration of vets in this region, I am especially committed to ensuring we provide ample training and other resources for our veteran entrepreneurs.”
In addition to the SBA’s district offices and resource partners, the White House, along with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are involved in supporting NVSBW events. Join the conversation via Facebook and Twitter, using the #MyVetBiz hashtag. SBA is encouraging veteran business owners to tell their stories, while engaging communities to share their appreciation for local veteran entrepreneurs.
For more about NVSBW events happening in your area, visit www.sba.gov/VetBizWeek
Each year SBA helps more than 200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans and reservists start and grow their small businesses. To learn more about additional opportunities for veterans available through the SBA, visit www.sba.gov/vets.
