Jun 17

Jun 17 Vets: From Basic Training to Business Owner

Sen. Ben Cardin and SBA Announce Opening of First Small Business Veterans Outreach Center in Maryland

By Kevin Drummond

One of the most captivating and rewarding business experiences for many is the opportunity to become a business owner. Now local veterans will be trained to be successful entrepreneurs.

U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Chair Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced the creation of Maryland’s first Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) on June 8. It was established through a grant awarded to the University of Maryland, College Park, which will operate the center. The VBOC at the University of Maryland will provide services, training and other support across Maryland, as well as in the District of Columbia, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

“We are very proud to be part of this initiative and to leverage the University of Maryland’s entrepreneurship resources and networks to help our region’s veterans pursue their dreams and grow their businesses,” said Julie Lenzer, Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Maryland.

“Empowering our veterans with the tools they need to become successful small business owners will provide a boost to the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem across Maryland,” said Senator Cardin. “I thank the Small Business Administration (SBA) for this critical investment that will increase Maryland’s capacity to service the region’s service members. Support for our service men and women must stay strong when they are in uniform and when they transition to civilian life.”

The SBA VBOC program is a national network of twenty-two locations around the country serving as a one-stop shop for transitioning or active duty service members, veterans, National Guard or reserves, and military spouses. VBOCs provide business training and workshops, mentoring, government contracts guidance and resource referrals.

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“The military small business community – which includes entrepreneurs from active duty military, reserves, National Guard, veterans and military spouses – are a driving force in our nation’s economy,” said Administrator Guzman. “The can-do spirit of our service men and women is an entrepreneurial spirit. We want our military entrepreneurs to know that we’re here to help them start, grow and sustain successful small businesses.”