A new business requires a concerted and collective effort. In Tennessee, the Tennessee Small Business Development Center has found success by exploring as many programs as possible for which a veteran might qualify. This is especially important if you’re trying to develop investment capital for a business venture. Insufficient capital can be a major stumbling block to opening a business. You will find described in this guide potential funding sources for veterans and disabled veterans as well as other governmental resources.
Any potential business owner should have a comprehensive plan. Studying the ensuing chapters will help you put together a complete plan. It requires the diligence you learned in the service as well as the high level of commitment you have already demonstrated. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart and will be very demanding of you and your family.
In the end, however, starting your own business can help you achieve a high level of independence and offer a legitimate opportunity to excel and reach achievable goals.
This guide was designed to help you on your journey.
See the following Web sites for more information or reference materials:
Abilities Fund – www.abilitiesfund.org/
Americans with Disabilities Act – www.ada.gov/
Document Center – www.jan.wvu.edu/links/adalinks.htm
Equal Opportunity Employment Commission – www.eeoc.gov/types/ada.html
Guide for Small Businesses – www.ada.gov/smbusgd.pdf
SBA Guide to ADA – www.sba.gov/ada/
Center for Women Veterans – www1.va.gov/womenvet/
Disability Information – www.disabilityinfo.gov
Disabled American Veterans – www.dav.org/
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve – www.esgr.org/
Guide for Women Veterans (American Legion) – www.legion.org/documents/legion/pdf/womensguide.pdf
Health Benefits Service Center – www.appc1.va.gov/health_benefits/
Helmets to Hard Hats – www.helmetstohardhats.com
Hire Vets First – www.hirevetsfirst.gov
Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program – www.dol.gov/vets/programs/fact/Homeless_veterans_fs04.htm
Keys to Career Success – www.careeronestop.org/militarytransition/
Military to Civilian Occupation Translator – www.acinet.org/acinet/moc/
My Own Business – www.myownbusiness.org/index.html
National Association of State Women Veteran Coordinators – www.naswvc.com/
National Coalition of Homeless Veterans – www.nchv.org/advocacy.cfm
National Guard/Reservists Services – www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/reservists/index.html
Office of Veterans Business Development – www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/ovbd/index.html
Patriot Express and Military Reservists Loans – www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/ovbd/loans/index.html
Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) – www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/pass.htm
Presidents's National Hire Vets Committee - www.hirevetsfirst.gov
SCORE (formerly Service Corps of Retired Executives) – www.score.org/
Self-Assessment for Entrepreneurship – www.sba.gov/training/selfassessment.html
Self-Employment for People with Disabilities – www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/publicat.htm
Tennessee Small Business Development Center – www.tsbdc.org
Troops to Teachers – www.dantes.doded.mil/dantes_Web/troopstoteachers/index.asp
Troops to Truckers – www.troops2truckers.com/truckers/program/
Uniformed Services Employment/Reemployment Rights Act – www.dol.gov/compliance/guide/userra.htm
Women Veterans – www.nchv.org/women.cfm
United States
Department of Labor – www.dol.gov
Department of Veterans Affairs – www.va.gov
Department of Veterans Affairs-Vendor Information Pages - www.vetbiz.gov
Publications – www1.va.gov/vapubs/
House Committee on Veterans Affairs – www.veterans.house.gov/
Office of Disability Employment Policy – www.jan.wvu.edu/sbses/index.htm
Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs – www.senate.gov/~veterans/public/
Small Business Administration – www.sba.gov
Social Security Administration – www.ssa.gov (VESID – www.vesid.gov)
Veterans Benefits Administration – www.vba.va.gov/VBA/
Veterans Business Outreach Centers – www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/ovbd/ovbd_VBOP.html
Veterans Health Administration – www1.va.gov/health/index.asp
Veterans’ Preference Advisor in Federal Jobs – www.dol.gov/elaws/vetspref.htm
Women’s Veteran Issues – www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Topics/Women/index.htm
Women Veterans of America – www.womenveteransofamerica.com/
Wounded Warrior Project – www.woundedwarriorproject.org/