Penn State University has been awarded a grant by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to create a Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC). The new center will offer enhanced training and counselling for both new and established veteran-owned businesses, as well as military spouses across Pennsylvania.

Robert Yannuzzi, SBA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Veterans Business Development, highlighted the importance of supporting veteran entrepreneurs: “Veterans own nearly 55,000 businesses in Pennsylvania, and every month, more service members transition to civilian life with entrepreneurial ambitions. Penn State’s existing connections with veterans and strong support for entrepreneurs make them a great choice for this VBOC.”

In total, the SBA has allocated over $1 million in grants to launch new VBOCs, including centres in Puerto Rico and Ohio.

What the VBOC Offers

VBOCs provide a variety of services, including:

  • Business planning
  • Assistance with accessing capital
  • Guidance on government contracts
  • Marketing support
  • Training for service members, veterans, and military spouses

Among the key programs the VBOC at Penn State will offer are the Boots to Business (B2B) initiative, part of the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program. This includes Boots to Business Reboot and the Military Spouse Pathway to Business program. Penn State’s VBOC will also host quarterly B2B classes at the U.S. Army Carlisle Barracks.

Penn State’s Commitment to Veterans

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi expressed the university’s commitment: “Penn State honours the service and sacrifice of our veterans, and we are proud to support their success in education and entrepreneurship. The Veterans Business Outreach Center will continue our long tradition of serving both our veterans and entrepreneurs.”

The establishment of the Penn State VBOC received crucial backing from U.S. Representatives GT Thompson and Chrissy Houlahan, as well as Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman. In their letters of support, they emphasized Pennsylvania’s significant veteran population and the growing need for entrepreneurial development services.

Supporting Pennsylvania’s Veteran Entrepreneurs

The new centre will leverage Penn State’s existing entrepreneurial resources, including its Invent Penn State LaunchBox business hubs, which are located across the state. These hubs are already within 30 miles of 96% of Pennsylvania’s population, ensuring that the VBOC will be well-positioned to reach veterans and military families in all regions.

James Delattre, associate vice president for research and director of Penn State’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization, emphasized the university’s enthusiasm for this initiative: “We’re excited to provide the veteran community with this added layer of business support, working alongside our network of partners.”

Next Steps

Annie Hughes, statewide coordinator of the Invent Penn State LaunchBox & Innovation Network, will serve as the interim director of the VBOC. The center will be housed in the Penn State Office of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization and integrated into Pennsylvania’s broader ecosystem of entrepreneurial support services.

Details on the official opening of the center will be shared soon.

In celebration of National Veteran Small Business Week, the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will host the Boots to Business Reboot program on Friday, Nov. 15, as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week. This one-day course will be held at the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub. Learn more and register here.

For more information about VBOCs or to find your nearest centre, visit the Veterans Business Outreach Center program website.

To learn more about the SBA and its services, visit the SBA official site.