Boots to Business Program Reaches 100,000 Participant Milestone

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration announced this week that more than 100,000 current and aspiring veteran business owners have participated in the Boots to Business training course since the program began in January 2013.

“The SBA is proud to serve those who have served us” said Mark S. Hayward, SBA District Director. “Ensuring that our active-duty military, reservists, veterans, and military spouses have the resources they need to thrive as entrepreneurs is essential and this incredible milestone is a testament to the hard work of the men and women of the SBA and its resource partners.”

The Boots to Business program provides entrepreneurial education and training to transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses (including members of the National Guard and Reserve) via the U.S. Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program. In Rhode Island, the Boots to Business program is held in Newport and taught over 8 distinct modules by SBA experts and resource partners. The next Boots to Business session will be held on November 13 and is currently accepting registration. To reserve you spot in the next Boots to Business class, contact Matthew Spoehr at (401) 528-4574 or Matthew.Spoehr@SBA.gov.

The program is administered as a collaborative effort between SBA district offices and resource partners, which include Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC), Women’s Business Centers, SCORE, America’s Small Business Development Centers and grant partners. Here in New England, the VBOC is headquarted in Providence, Rhode Island and also serves Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Each year, SBA helps more than 200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans, members of the National Guard and Reserve, and military spouses start, grow and expand their businesses. Celebrate the veteran small business community during National Veterans Small Business Week this November 4-8, 2019. To find an event near you, visit www.sba.gov/vetbiz. To learn more about Boots to Business, visit sbavets.force.com.

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.

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