Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) announced a $300,000 funding opportunity for women and veteran-owned businesses. The SBA’s Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program anticipates giving out six awards as part of the funding opportunity, with a minimum amount of $25,000 per award.

Who Should Apply

The SBA is extending the funding opportunity to non-profit organizations, local or state agencies, private sector firms and higher learning institutions; beneficiaries of the program will range from veterans to women spouses of service members.

In their release, the SBA stated, “Successful applicants will be organizations with a demonstrated history of providing successful entrepreneurship training to women veterans, women service members, and women spouses of service members and veterans.”

A Q&A conference call will be held on November 30, 2016 at 3 p.m. EST. To join the conference call, dial 1-888-858-2144, access code 5817583#. For the opportunity to have your questions answered during the call, you must submit them to Janet Moorman at janet.moorman@sba.gov no later than November 16.

Facts on Women Veteran Owned Small Businesses:

• As of 2012, women veterans owned 383,302 businesses generating $17.9 billion in sales
• From 2007 to 2012, women veteran owned small businesses increased by 294.7 percent.

With Veterans Day 2016 fast approaching, we must remember to recognize and celebrate the contributions of our veterans and veteran business owners. This funding opportunity from the SBA is a great resource for these entrepreneurs whose success is vital to our country and economy.

The deadline to apply is December 12, 2016. For more information, please refer to program announcement No. WVETP-2017-01 at www.grants.gov.