SBA to host National Veterans Small Business Week Nov. 1-5

Events will highlight agency’s efforts to support nation’s nearly 1.8 million veteran-owned small businesses through its 22 veterans business outreach centers

The U.S. Small Business Administration will celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience of veteran small business owners during National Veterans Small Business Week, Nov. 1-5.

“National Veterans Small Business Week is a time to honor the service and celebrate the impact of our nearly 1.8 million veteran entrepreneurs who are a driving force in our economy, generating approximately $1 trillion annually and employing nearly 4 million people,” SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman said. “The SBA team is committed to providing the capital, marketplace opportunities and supportive network of veterans business outreach centers so that our veterans and military spouses can continue to do what they do best: face hardships head-on to build, innovate and adapt their businesses to survive and thrive.”

Senator and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth said, “Guaranteeing paid leave is a critical part of the effort to improve the economic security of families, support small businesses and increase economic growth. The pandemic has exposed the chronic caregiving crisis faced by working people and employers alike. We cannot emerge from this crisis and remain one of the only countries in the world without some form of national paid leave. As we honor Veteran Small Business Week and continue our efforts to support small business owners, including the more than 330,000 veteran business owners, now is the time make a bold investment in our nation’s working families.”

Representative and former Army Ranger Jason Crow added, “Our service members have our backs; it’s our responsibility to have their backs, too. That means ensuring veterans have the tools and resources they need to build and run a small business. I’m proud to join in recognizing our veteran small business community this National Veterans Small Business Week as we continue investing in the strength and resiliency of American veterans.”

Throughout the week, the SBA will focus on highlighting various aspects of the veteran small business ownership journey. Hosted by the Office of Veterans Business Development, the weeklong event will cover several topics such as transition assistance, entrepreneurial training, government contracting, disaster assistance, and access to capital resources.

SBA district offices, resource partners and local organizations across the country will host National Veterans Small Business Week activities in hybrid in-person and virtual formats based on the needs of their community. For more information about National Veterans Small Business Week and to find events, visit sba.gov/nvsbw.

The Office of Veterans Business Development works through SBA’s resource partner network, which includes small business development centers, SCORE, women’s business centers, and 22 veterans business outreach centers (VBOC) located throughout the nation. VBOCs are also the leading partner in hosting the “Boots to Business” and “Boots to Business Reboot” programs, which offer courses on entrepreneurship on military installations and in local communities. Since the program’s inception in 2013, “Boots to Business” has trained and graduated more than 143,955 service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses. For more information on the resources available for veteran entrepreneurs, visit www.sba.gov/veterans.www.sba.gov/veterans.

The SBA celebrates, connects and empowers service members (including National Guard and Reserve), veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs and business owners – past, present and future – during National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW). Now in its eighth year, NVSBW raises awareness of veteran small business ownership and encourages communities to support their veteran- and military-owned businesses. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov/nvsbw.