The Department of Veterans Affairs created the Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE), which is solely dedicated to assisting Veterans start and build their businesses.  CVE maintains a web site that serves as the Federal government portal for Veteran-Owned businesses known as VetBiz.gov.

CVE may be contacted by:

The CVE web site provides many links to sites providing assistance to Veterans Entrepreneurs, such as the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Veteran’s Business Development Officers located in local SBA offices throughout the nation, and the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA), for information on state assistance to Veterans.

Joint Venture and Teaming Arrangements for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business
Information Letter 049-06-4 provides guidance on the review and acceptance of joint ventures and teaming arrangements proposed by Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.

Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006
Public Law 109-461, the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006, was signed into law by President Bush on December 22, 2006.  This law provides VA with unique authority to conduct set-aside and sole source procurements with Small Businesses owned and operated by Veterans.  Download VA Acquisition Circular 2008-01, which implements the “Veterans First Contracting Program” (P.L. 109-461).

Executive Order 13360, Contracting with Service-Disabled Veterans’ Businesses
On October 20th, 2004, the President signed Executive Order 13360 calling for an increase Federal contracting and subcontracting opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned businesses.  On December 12th, 2004, the Executive Office of the President issued a memorandum to all Federal agencies on the implementation of the Executive Order.  This memorandum provides guidance to assist agencies in preparing their strategies to implement the Order.

Among other things, the Executive Order requires each agency to:

1. Develop a strategy to significantly increase its contracting and subcontracting with Small Businesses owned and controlled by Service-Disabled Veterans;
2. Designate a senior-level official to be responsible for developing and implementing the agency’s strategy; and
3. Report its progress annually to the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Download VA’s Implementation Strategy for E.O. 13360.

VA Homeless Grants
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides grants for homeless Veterans.  The Grant/Per Diem Program assists nonprofit and local/state government agencies in establishing housing or service centers for homeless Veterans.  Grants are awarded for the construction, acquisition, or renovation of facilities, and for the purchase of vans for the transportation of homeless Veterans.  Partial operating funds may be provided for programs through per diem payments.  Visit the Grant and Per Diem web site for details.

SBA Office of Veterans Affairs
The Mission of the Office of SBA Veterans Affairs Office is to foster entrepreneurship among eligible Veterans, to promote the legitimate interest of Veteran-Owned Small Business concerns and to ensure that those concerns receive fair consideration in purchases made by the Federal government.  Visit the Office of Veterans Business Development web site for details.

SBA Veterans Business Development Officers
Listing of SBA Veterans Business Development Officers at District Offices.  Visit the Veterans Affairs Offices by State Listing web site for details.

Patriot Express; a new loan program for the Veteran community
SBA has announced the SBA’s Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative for Veterans and members of the military community wanting to establish or expand Small Businesses.  Eligible military community members include:

• Veterans
• Service-Disabled Veterans
• Active-duty service members eligible for the military’s Transition Assistance Program
• Reservists and National Guard members
• Current spouses of any of the above
• The widowed spouse of a service member or Veteran who died during service or of a service-connected disability
• SBA and its resource partners are focusing additional efforts on counseling and training to augment this loan initiative.

More information can be obtained at http://www.sba.gov/content/express-programs.