The SBA Office of Veteran Business Development is the federal hub for veteran centered business counseling, loan guarantee programs and advocacy. Launched in 2001 under the umbrella of the SBA, it has quadrupled the number of veterans receiving services with the SBA.
“We’ve helped move SBA as an agency, and also the broader federal arena, to recognize that vets as entrepreneurs are an important part of the U.S. economy,” said William Elmore, associate administrator for veteran business development. Elmore is an Air Force veteran and former small business owner.
This office has strong relationships with several third-party agencies, such as SCORE, Veteran Business Outreach Centers and Small Business Development Centers. With only 2,000 employees, the SBA is small, but efficient, Elmore said.
“We have thousands of business counselors with varying degrees of expertise in various parts of the small business community arena,” Elmore said. “The Veteran Business Development officer at one of our SBA District offices is a good place to start. They will know the right experts inside the system, so vets aren’t casting about to all these different organizations. Getting that third-party expertise basically for free can save time, lower the learning curve and minimize mistakes.”
This office also provides loan guarantee programs such as the Patriot Express Pilot Loan.
- 1,400 SBA locations across the country
- 68 district SBA offices and 80 field offices
- Veteran Business Development Officer at each SBA District Office
Find a local Veteran Business Development Officer at www.sba.gov under Local Resources
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