See Senator Rose’s questioning HERE.
WASHINGTON, DC – During a hearing of the US Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Senator Jackie Rosen (D-NV) spoke with Col. Tim Green, acting assistant administrator for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Veterans Business Development, about what it’s like to be a new Veteran. The Nevada Business Education Center (VBOC) will benefit veterans looking to start a small business and existing veteran-owned small businesses alike.
Despite being home to more than 200,000 veterans and more than 23,000 veteran-owned small businesses, Nevada has lacked a dedicated, statewide VBOC. Earlier this year, following his push, Rosen announced that the SBA had approved funding to create the first in-state VBOC in Nevada.
Senator Rosen has been a leader in the Senate supporting Nevada veterans and military personnel as they transition to civilian life. Earlier this month, he helped promote the two parties Hire Student Veterans encouraging employers to recruit student veterans for part-time employment and paid internships. Rosen also introduced bipartisan legislation to create a new startup tax credit to help veterans start small businesses in underserved communities. In addition, Senator Rosen introduced bipartisan legislation to establish, maintain and operate Student Veteran Centers at universities and colleges across the country to help student veterans transition from military life to civilian life.
Below is an excerpt from the exchange:
Senator Rosen: [Nevada’s] Home to more than 200,000 veterans, [and] 23,000 veteran-owned small businesses – that’s actually one in eight small businesses in our state, and 99 percent of businesses are small businesses.
However, we have been without a special Nevada-only Veterans Business Organization Center. The lack of a statewide VBOC, a one-stop shop for supporting veterans, transitioning military personnel and their families, has meant limited information and resources for Nevada veterans looking to actually start or grow a business.
Earlier this year, I urged the SBA to establish a VBOC in Nevada to provide specialized support to our veterans and transitioning service members to address their unique needs and concerns. I am very pleased to report to the committee here today that in April the SBA authorized the establishment of a VBOC in Nevada. There will be several locations, one in northern Nevada, one in southern Nevada.
So, Colonel Green, can you talk about the importance of Veterans Employment Centers in facilitating the transition from active duty to civilian life for veterans who want to start a small business? How can VBOCs support existing veteran businesses and help them grow?
Colonel Green: Senator, thank you for the question. I know we are excited about the Nevada VBOC. We’ve also opened in Colorado, so we’re excited about those opportunities.
They were selected because of the data, when we looked at the areas where there were a lot of rigs, you know, there were a lot of crane classes, you know, historically there were boots for the business.
So there was a very thorough, data-driven decision to place in Nevada. Because there are so many veterans and veteran-owned small businesses, it will have a big impact there.
Again, I think we have a Nevada office with a satellite office in Reno and they’ll be able to expand into some rural areas. But again, you know they’re going to provide training and advice, and the partnership with the Small Business Development Centers is going to be critical for them. Our district offices are already there, so they have a great opportunity, and their main role for the VBOC, their number one role, is to teach the Boots to Business program. At National Guard and Reserve bases and installations in other areas.
So we’re very excited to have one there. I think the admin is excited about it. He will come out [there] also.
Senator Rosen: I am very excited. We will do it soon.
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