WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced it has awarded nearly $2 million to nonprofit organizations providing “Boots to Business” entrepreneurship training to military service members, spouses, and veterans. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, helping small businesses, often from underserved communities such as veteran-owned small businesses, has been a key priority.
This funding, offered by SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development, will enable the two awarded organizations to deliver Boots to Business—the entrepreneurship track of the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program and follow-on training—to military service members and their spouses, both within the continental United States and overseas.
“Boots to Business is a vital training program to connect our transitioning service members, veterans, and their families with the necessary tools, tactics, and resources to launch a small business successfully,” said Larry Stubblefield, Associate Administrator at the Office of Veterans Business Development. “SBA is committed to providing this critical foundation and follow-on opportunities for the military community as a pillar to our nation’s small business landscape.”
The two awardees are:
- Syracuse University’s Institute for Veteran & Military Families (IVMF) – SBA funding $1 million
IVMF will provide Boots to Business instruction to service members and military spouses stationed outside the continental United States. The course provides an overview of entrepreneurship and applicable business ownership fundamentals, the same curriculum offered within the United States. This course is for active-duty service members (including National Guard and Reserve members), veterans, and spouses.
- Mississippi State University (MSU) – SBA funding $824,100
MSU will continue to deliver follow-on training for Boots to Business graduates through an online training course called Boots to Business Revenue Readiness. This six-week synchronous online entrepreneurship training teaches transitioning service members, veterans, and spouses how to develop and refine their business model into a business plan.
Both awards are an initial 12-month project period plus four option years, subject to the availability of funds. Each awardee has displayed a commitment and ability to deliver entrepreneurial training to transitioning service members and their spouses.
SBA’s Boots to Business program has served more than 156,000 transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses since its launch on January 1, 2013. The program is a collaborative effort between SBA district offices, SBA resource partners (Veterans Business Outreach Centers, Association of Women’s Business Centers, SCORE, Small Business Development Centers), SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development, and grant (cooperative agreement) partners.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. 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 or 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.