• Editor’s Note: This article was adapted from an article written by Barbara Carson, an official with the Small Business Administration.

Across the generations, military veteran, and military spouse entrepreneurs have pursued their version of the American dream — owning and operating a business.

As the U.S. Small Business Administration celebrates National Veterans Small Business Week (Oct. 31 to Nov. 4), it’s a good time to acknowledge the success of Kane County’s veteran entrepreneurs and let them know about resources that can help ensure the success of future generations of business owners in the military community.

This year’s theme is “Veteran Entrepreneurs: Success Across Generations.” Local events — which include “Boots to Business: Reboot” entrepreneurship training and access to capital workshops — will be held nationwide to connect service members, veterans, Reserve and National Guard members and military spouses with entrepreneurship resources to start and grow their businesses.

Share Your Success Story

During National Veterans Small Business Week, and going forward, share your veteran small business success story or show your appreciation for veteran entrepreneurs by joining the conversation online using #MyVetBiz.

Celebrate this National Veterans Small Business Week by visiting www.sba.gov/myvetbiz to learn more about events, courses and resources built to support your entrepreneurship success. Click on the links below to connect to the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development program offerings directly:

• Boots to Business (B2B) program offers entrepreneurial counseling and training programs for transitioning service members on military installations worldwide.
• Service-Disabled Entrepreneurship Development Training Program – a  grant programs that supports organizations that deliver entrepreneurship training to service-disables veterans who own or aspire to own their own businesses.
• Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship, is a program offered in partnership with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, and provides resources for women veterans, active duty and female family members to become entrepreneurs.
• Veterans Business Outreach Centers provide entrepreneurial development, such as business training, counseling and mentoring, and referrals for eligible veterans owning or considering starting a small business.

Small Business Awards

• Click Here to Find Out How to Submit a Winning National Small Business Week Award Nomination.

For more than 50 years, National Small Business Week has served as our nation’s salute to small business owners, who create two out of every three net new jobs for Americans. Many household names were previous National Small Business Week award winners, including Ben and Jerry’s, Calloway Golf, Chobani, Dogfish Head, Stoneyfield Farm, Pacifica and Tom’s of Maine. It’s now your time to join the list of SBA’s National Small Business Week winners by submitting a nomination.