Veteran Institute for Procurement to Conduct Boots to Business: Federal Procurement

The Small Business Administration supports training to veteran-owned businesses seeking federal procurement opportunities

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will provide support to the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation (MCCCF) to provide technical training to veteran-owned businesses seeking federal procurement opportunities. Through a Cooperative Agreement with SBA, the Foundation's National Center for Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) will expand and host three training sessions a year (over a twelve month period) to support up to 150 service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB) to attend the program. 

"On my first day as the SBA Administrator, my very first meeting was with veterans who went on to become entrepreneurs, and we remain committed to supporting the men and women who have bravely served our nation. That is why today, I am thrilled to announce the SBA's support of the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation's work to help our veteran small business owners," said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet.

"We are delighted to work with VIP [Veteran Institute for Procurement], who shares SBA's passion and commitment to our veteran small business owners, as we continue to expand the resources available to veteran-owned companies and prepare them for further federal procurement opportunities. This exceptional, nationwide program will also benefit federal agencies in fulfilling the three percent goal for procurement awards to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses by expanding the pool of businesses that can compete."

Funding from the SBA will allow the expansion of VIP's market-based training for SDVODB and VOSBs. VIP is an educational training program for owners, principals and C-level executives of veteran-owned businesses that trains SDVOSBs and VOSBs to compete and comply successfully in the federal marketplace. The three day comprehensive certification program's curriculum is designed for veteran businesses to increase their ability to win government contracts by establishing best business practices. 

SBA's Boots to Business: From Service to Startup program is a training track within the Department of Defense's "Transition, Goals, Plans, Success" (Transition GPS) program.  Boots to Business is a three step entrepreneurship training program developed to introduce transitioning service members to small business ownership. 

In addition to connecting with local resource networks, participants also have an opportunity to take advantage of the counseling and training offered by SBA's resource partner network, which includes Veteran Business Outreach Centers, Women's Business Centers, Small Business Development Centers and SCORE.

Each year, SBA helps more than 200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans and reservists start and grow their small businesses.  

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

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