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For Veterans who prefer a face-to-face learning experience, TVC provides program
support to various organizations
around the U.S. that offer seminars, workshops and multi-week programs to assist
in starting or growing your small business.
Click on the links below or call the site closest to you for more information on
their individual offerings.
1) Technological Research and Development Authority - Melbourne, FL
Established by the State of Florida in 1987, TRDA has been working with a variety
of programs to stimulate the Florida economy and is funded by local, state, and
federal dollars. TRDA has a long history of providing business assistance in a wide
arena including procurement assistance, venture capitalist networking, and business
incubation. TRDA is an advocate for Florida Senate bill 1882 (which has not passed
to date) that establishes a goal for the state to award at least 3% of contracting
dollars to SDVOBs. TRDA is working to replicate California’s DVBE success in Florida
This initiative will be modeled after the California DVBE program and will work
to increase the level of contracting done with service-disabled veteran businesses
in Florida. It will register Florida DVBEs with the State of Florida’s procurement
system, educate procurement officials about contracting with DVBEs, match DVBEs
with procurement opportunities, promote DVBEs at the State of Florida’s Matchmaking
event, and garner media attention for the program. TRDA intends to leverage the
results from this 12-month initiative into a larger and more long-term program via
either state or corporate funding.
Contact Information:
Paul Secor
321-872-1050 ext. 109
http://www.trda.org
2) Entrepreneurial Boot Camp for Veterans - Syracuse, NY
The 'Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities' (EBV) offers cutting
edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to
Veterans disabled as a result of their service supporting operations Enduring Freedom
and Iraqi Freedom. The EBV was first introduced by the Whitman School of Management
at Syracuse University in 2007. In 2008, the EBV Consortium of Schools was launched,
a national partnership with UCLA Anderson School of Management, Florida State University’s
College of Business, and Mays Business School at Texas A&M. Beginning in the
Summer of 2008, each of these world-class business schools will offer EBV on their
campuses. The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) was
launched in response to the overwhelming need of disabled veterans of the Iraq and
Afghanistan wars to find a viable financial re-entry into society. The EBV is an
intensive one-year program offering practical training in new venture creation and
growth, while reflecting issues unique to disability benefits programs. The program
is free to Veterans. In 2008, a national program will be launched in conjunction
with selected colleges and universities to run a similar EBV in states and regions
across the US. The program will be called the EBV University Consortium. POC: http://whitman.syr.edu/ebv/
Application on website.
Contact Information:
*Application on website
http://www.whitman.syr.edu/ebv/
3) Able-Disabled Advocacy, Inc. - San Diego, CA
Able-Disabled Advocacy (A-DA), a 503(c)(3) organization founded in 1976, is proposing
to serve veterans with service-connected disabilities that reside throughout San
Diego County, CA. A-DA specializes in providing training and services to individuals
with disabilities. A-DA has an established partnership with local One-Stop Career
Centers and has service staff co-located at the centers. A-DA programs help Veterans
become self-employed. A-DA’s proposed Business$ense program will serve 80+ Veterans
over the course of 12 months. A comprehensive array of entrepreneurial education
and training activities will be conducted by A-DA and our Business$ense partners
that include A-DA’s Business Advisory Council, the VA, SBA, and the Department of
Rehabilitation, the Employment Development Department, South County Economic Development
Council, and San Diego’s One-Stop Career Network. Extensive leveraged resources
and other program support will help ensure future sustainability.
Contact Information:
Elaine Cooluris
619-231-5990 ext. 319
http://www.abledisabledadvocacy.org
4) Veterans Advocacy Foundation -
St. Louis, MO
The Veterans Business Resource Center(VBRC) is a project of the Veterans Advocacy
Foundation, Inc., an IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. The VBRC opened it's
doors on June 7 th , 2004. The Saint Louis Veterans Business Resource Center’s parent
organization, the Veterans Advocacy Foundation, Inc. was created to provide entrepreneurial
services to veterans, National Guard members and Reservists who exhibit the desire
and capability to start or grow their small business. The Bootstrap Grant Program
combines training, mentoring and targeted capital to veterans who wish to start
their own small business. This is the first organization in the nation to offer
an inclusive program to veteran start-up small businesses. Bootstrap Grant recipients
pledge to create three new jobs as their businesses expand.
Contact Information:
Pat Heavey
314-531-8387
http://www.vetbiz.com
5) VetBiz Central -
Flint, MI
VetBizCentral provides real solutions for sustainable self-sufficiency through self-employment.
VetBizCentral’s program anticipates reaching out to more than 1,200 Veterans through
the course of this project and an estimated 15-20 Veteran owned business will become
eligible to do business with the government as a result of training and assistance
offered by this project. VetBizCentral will focus on helping Michigan Veterans do
business with the government by pre-qualifying them to bid on set-aside contracts.
This project aims to increase that number by heightening awareness and bridging
the gap between SDVOBs and the Federal Procurement system. VetBizCentral will conduct
a minimum of 8 procurement classes during FY 2008 as well as two conferences focusing
on the topic.
Contact Information:
Ed Ronders
866-716-8387
http://www.vetbizcentral.com
6) Seattle Business Assistance Center - Seattle, WA
South Sound Women’s Business center opened in spring of 2007 with a $150,000 SBA
grant. It is one of three branches of Women’s Business Center under the umbrella
organization Community Capital Development. During the first year the center was
able to help more than 70 businesses start. Before receiving a TVC grant the Center
was already targeting veterans with a series of Small Business Training Workshops
titled “Veterans Beginning Business” which was aimed at assisting Soldiers transitioning
out of the military at Fort Lewis, Wa. The Veterans Outreach for Training and Education (VOTE) program fills a gap in local Veteran services by providing technical assistance,
business development classes, and marketing opportunities for new veteran entrepreneurs
and existing veteran business owners. VOTE roundtable workshops offer what no other
networking group does: public and private sector individuals that provide a unique
array of contacts, services, and suggestions for veteran business owners and start-ups.
Participants receive practical support and guidance from a range of individuals
with a wealth of experience in an informal, ongoing relationship – the most effective
way to build a network.
Contact Information:
Linda Jadwin
253-680-7194
http://www.seattleccd.com/wbcmain/
7) Jewish Vocational Service Center -
Boston, MA
Jewish Vocational Center has been running entrepreneurial classes with great success
since 1992. The proposed Veterans program is endorsed by Coleman Nee, Undersecretary
for the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services and Lewis Celli, New England’s
Veterans SBA representative. TVC is excited to tap their years of experience, proven
track record, and depth of program personnel to help Veterans in the Boston Area.
Serving mainly dislocated workers, Massachusetts Rehabilitation clients, and veterans,
JVS’ Enterprise Training Program (ETP) offers a continuum of business support services
to individuals to start their own businesses. The ETP includes classroom training
focused on developing a detailed business plan and financial projections to be presented
to a panel of business experts at the end of the session. Services also include
one-on-one consulting to help implement the business plan. Upon completion of the
program, participants continue to receive an extensive array of support services
and either start their own small business or gain employment.
Contact Information:
Paula Mannillo
617-399-3308
http://www.jvs-boston.org
8) Jewish Vocational Service Center - Chicago, IL
Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) open over a century ago and today has numerous centers
around Chicago. JVS is a dynamic agency delivering a comprehensive selection of
non-sectarian employment and training services. JVS helps a diverse population explore
career choices and find jobs in a rapidly changing marketplace. In 2001 JVS received
a large endowment to launch a micro enterprise loan fund and business assistance
center. Since that time the program has provided access to capital to many individuals
who wish to start or expand a small business venture. IN FY 2007 JVS enabled entrepreneurs
to access more than $400,00 in loan funds using a combination of private and SBA
loans. JVS proposes a program designed for veterans and their spouses that will
assist them in considering the development of a small business venture. A multi-step
service program will recruit veterans, provide group and individual programming
and technical assistance. The program will take them through the necessary steps
of determining whether they have the motivation to be a small business owner and
have the necessary business skills to take that step. For those who do, the program
will provide assistance to develop a viable business plan and access to low-cost
start-up funding.
Contact Information:
Donna Rockin
312-673-3430
http://www.jvschicago.org
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