Penn State awarded grant for Veterans Outreach Center

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a grant award to Penn State University.

The grant will be used to establish a Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), which will enhance training and counseling services for both new and existing veteran and military spouse small business owners in Pennsylvania.

“Veterans own nearly 55,000 businesses in Pennsylvania, and every month, more service members who are considering entrepreneurship leave the military and transition back to civilian life,” SBA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Veterans Business Development Robert Yannuzzi said. “We selected Penn State as a Veterans Business Outreach Center due to their existing connection to the veteran community and their robust entrepreneurial support across the state. The VBOC at Penn State will further the mission of all SBA VBOCs: to be a one-stop shop for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs, no matter what stage of business ownership they’re in.”

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Over $1 million in awards were announced, with organizations from Puerto Rico and Ohio also receiving awards to establish VBOCs. The centers offer a range of business support services, including business planning, assistance accessing capital, government contract guidance, marketing and outreach, and training for service members, veterans and military spouses.

In celebration of National Veteran Small Business Week, the Penn State Small Business Development Center will host the “Boots to Business Reboot” program on Friday, Nov. 14 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in room 612 of the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub. For more information and to register, visit Penn State’s website.

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