VA Business Programs for Veterans

Business Loans for Veterans

VA Business Programs for Veterans

by John P. Allen

The Department of Veterans Affairs has created the Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE), which is solely dedicated to assisting veterans in starting and building businesses. They call it VetBiz.

VetBiz is a Veteran Resource Information web site designed to assist veteran entrepreneurs who want to start and expand their businesses in the Federal and private marketplace. They provide up to the minute information from the Federal Government as it pertains to Service Disabled and Veteran Owned Small Businesses.

VetBiz provides the following services FREE to anyone who served in the active military, naval or air service, and who was discharged or released there from under conditions other than dishonorable:  Vendor Info, Program Assistance, Loans, Business Coaching

VetBiz maintains a web site that serves as the federal government portal for veteran-owned businesses known as VETBIZ.GOV .

CVE may be contacted by:

Phone:
Washington DC Metropolitan Area: (202) 303-3260
Toll Free: (866) 584-2344

FAX (202) 254-0238
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.vetbiz.gov/

Mailing Address:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Center for Veterans Enterprise (00VE)
810 Vermont Avenue, N. W.
Washington, D.C. 20420

CVE's website provides many links to sites providing assistance to veterans entrepreneurs, such as the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Veteran's Business Development , Officers located in local SBA offices throughout the nation, and the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA), for information on state assistance to veterans.

Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006

Public Law 109-461, the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006, was signed into law by President Bush on December 22, 2006. This law provides VA with unique authority to conduct set-aside and sole source procurements with small businesses owned and operated by veterans. The agency has 180 days in which to publish implementing regulations. Download a draft Fact Sheet pertaining to P.L. 109-461.

Executive Order 13360, Contracting with Service-Disabled Veterans' Businesses

On October 20th, 2004, the President signed Executive Order 13360 calling for an increase federal contracting and subcontracting opportunites for service-disabled veteran businesses. On December 12th, 2004, the Executive Office of the President issued a memorandum to all Federal agencies on the implementation of the Executive Order. This memorandum provides guidance to assist agencies in preparing their strategies to implement the Order.

Among other things, the Order requires each agency to:

1. develop a strategy to significantly increase its contracting and subcontracting with small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans;
2. designate a senior-level official to be responsible for developing and implementing the agency's strategy; and
3. report its progress annually to the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Download VA's Implementation Strategy for E.O. 13360.

VA Homeless Grants

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides grants for homeless veterans. The Grant/Per Diem Program assists nonprofit and local/state government agencies in establishing housing or service centers for homeless veterans. Grants are awarded for the construction, acquisition, or renovation of facilities, and for the purchase of vans for the transportation of homeless veterans. Partial operating funds may be provided for programs through per diem payments. Visit the Grant and Per Diem web page  for details.

SBA Office of Veterans Affairs

The Mission of the Office of SBA Veterans Affairs Office is to foster entrepreneurship among eligible veterans, to promote the legitimate interest of veteran-owned small business concerns and to ensure that those concerns receive fair consideration in purchases made by the Federal government. Visit the Office of Veterans Business Development  web page for details.

SBA Veterans Business Development Officers

Listing of Small Business Administration (SBA) Veterans Business Development Officers at District Offices. Visit the Veterans Affairs Offices by State Listing. For more info, go to: http://www.sba.gov/VETS/

Please visit their  "News and Information Page" for current releases.