Are There Business Grants for Disabled Veterans?
The VA is allotted funds each year to issue grants to firms and institutions for much needed research, development, and testing of VA benefits, systems and other activities. Unfortunately, there is no such grant and never has been. What the VA does offer are special programs designed to assist service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses.
VA Grants for Start-up and Expansion
Unfortunately, no federal agencies, including the Veterans Administration, offer grants (non-repayable payments) to service disabled veterans for the sole purpose of starting, supplementing or expanding a business of any size.
VA Specialized Grants
These grants are often offered under special set-aside processes that allow veteran and service-disabled, veteran-owned businesses a better opportunity to acquire them. However, these funds are earmarked and must be spent on the program they were intended to support.
Grant and Contracting Assistance Programs
Certain programs exist that are designed to allow veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB) and disabled veteran businesses helping other vets (SDVOB) to compete for and win federal contracts and research grants. These programs are set-aside contracting processes, mandated small business sub-contracting plans for large corporations, veteran small business assistance and support and veteran small business loan qualification assistance programs.
SADBU Offices
Every federal agency and department has a Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (SADBU) office attached to it. These offices are specifically tasked with identifying and assisting small business concerns, such as veteran-owned businesses. SADBU officers can often walk veteran small business owners into meetings with key decision makers.
SBA Assistance
The Small Business Administration's (SBA) primary purpose is to assist small businesses. This is especially so for service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses and veteran-owned small businesses. The SBA is skilled in assisting veterans in developing business plans, formulating marketing plans and qualifying for much needed small business loans.
Tags: small businesses, veteran-owned small, veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned, small business, small business
