VBOC Florida

When Army veteran Douglas Craft first heard about SBA resources, his janitorial business, Crystal Clear Maintenance, was earning about $80,000 a year. Douglas visited with SBA’s New Mexico District Office to learn about opportunities to strengthen his business. His district office provided Douglas with guidance and mentorship that opened doors he did not know about in government contracting. The first step was to get Douglas’s business certified through what is now the VetCert program.
VetCert certifies veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, allowing them to compete for exclusive, set-aside contracts. This helps small businesses grow by diversifying their revenue streams.
Douglas’s district office also informed him about SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program, which awards at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars to disadvantaged businesses each year. Through this program, Douglas also received one-on-one counseling with a business expert who advised him on the right steps to take to improve his business and helped him learn about other SBA programs, including SBA lending programs.
Due in part to the advice and resources he received, Douglas was able to expand Crystal Clear Maintenance into eight states, where the business earns over $25 million in revenue per year!

Tech Innovation Can Help Businesses, But It’s Helping Cyber-attackers Too
https://www.inc.com/crowdstrike/tech-innovation-can-help-businesses-but-its-helping-cyberattackers-too.html

Tech Innovation Can Help Businesses--But It's Helping Cyberattackers TooHoping for the best won't keep your data safe. Small businesses must implement the tools and processes they need to defend against modern cyberattacks.

Tech Innovation Can Help Businesses--But It's Helping Cyberattackers Too Hoping for the best won't keep your data safe. Small businesses must implement the tools and processes they need to defend against modern cyberattacks.

In collaboration with the Department of Labor (DOL)’s Transition Employment Assistance for Military Spouses (TEAMS), the SBA is hosting an entrepreneurship workshop for military spouses on Wednesday, July 10 at 2 p.m. ET. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/tap/teams-workshops

In collaboration with Department of Labor (DOL)’s Transition Employment Assistance for Military Spouses (TEAMS), the SBA is hosting an entrepreneurship workshop for military spouses on Wednesday, July 10 at 2 p.m. ET.

🪂 Dive Into Marketing Strategy Easier Your NW Florida Small Business Development Center Updates — — — Upcoming Training Workshops — — — Register to tune in Tuesday, July 16 from 9-10 a.m. to learn how small businesses can leverage free da

Important News Regarding the SBA's VetCert Program

SBA VetCert applications will be PAUSED for one month on August 1, 2024.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced this week that the VetCert System (and all SBA-managed certifications) will pause for one month starting August 1st while all certifications are migrated to one unified system – the system VetCert is currently using. The announcement can be viewed here.

The SBA will grant a one-year extension to all certified Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) with a recertification due on or after August 1, 2024. View the FAQs about this extension at the link here.

August, September, and October are busy times for federal contracting opportunities. THIS COULD AFFECT YOUR OPPORTUNITIES IF YOU DON’T ACT NOW.

If you are not certified by the SBA as a VOSB or SDVOSB or need to recertify before August 1st, THERE IS STILL TIME to apply before the SBA pause, but YOU MUST ACT FAST!

You don’t want to miss out on contracting opportunities at the end of the fiscal year!

Log on to Veteran Small Business Certification (sba.gov) to complete the certification or recertification process.

IMPORTANT: If you have questions about this notice, please get in touch with the VetCert Call Center at 800-862-8088 (M – F, 8 AM – 6 PM ET) or [email protected].

https://certify.sba.gov/upgrade

SBA Certify - Small Business Administration | SBA Certify - Small The 8(a) program is a robust nine-year program created to help firms owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

International Joke day!...

However, your marketing plan is NO joke! 💻🕵️‍♂️

Online marketing symposium -
HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR MARKETING PLAN 7/2/24 5:30pm-8pm

Registration link: 👇
https://bit.ly/3x5O1up

A solid marketing plan is a "must have" a small business.
You need to follow the plan in order to generate the profit needed to stay in business.

Common SBA loan myths debunked: What business owners should know - CUInsight Small Business Administration (SBA) loans are a valuable resource for small businesses seeking funding. Supported by the government, it reduces risk and

Behind every is a great resource network. can help connect and small business owners with the partners and organizations ready to support their dreams.

LOCAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE:

Did you know you can get small business resources close to home?

The U.S. Small Business Administration provides local resources, like VBOCs, SCORE Mentors, SBDCs, WBCs, and more.

Take a look at what local aid is available for your business:
https://bit.ly/46743zL

Juneteenth:
FREEDOM DAY
June 19th 1865

Learn more about Juneteenth in the National Archives. 💖💖
https://bit.ly/4aJC2jT

Looking for new ways to grow your ?

The U.S. government sets aside contracts specifically for small businesses, including veteran-owned small businesses!

Read on to learn how to set yourself up for success in the federal marketplace: https://bit.ly/3NO5EmT

Building Your Financial Plan Webinar
6/18/24 6pm-9pm

Registration link:
https://bit.ly/3wWwZyX

Learn some vital business practices from experienced entrepreneurs!

Happy Flag day! 💙

One Flag,
One Land,
One Heart,
One Hand,
One Nation Evermore.

~Oliver Wendell Holmes

offers its Boots to Business program to people other than .

Service members, National Guard or Reserve members, and military spouses can all access this free entrepreneurship training to help make their dreams come true.

Sign up today: 👇
https://bit.ly/3mDedHt

In recognition of Juneteenth, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will host a Mini Resource Fair!

Learn about resources available to you to help you LAUNCH or GROW your business.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024 • 1:00 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.
SBA District Office—7825 Baymeadows Way, Suite 100B, Jacksonville, Florida 32256 (Park on Lakeside of Building)
Link below 👇
https://bit.ly/4e5pLJy

A Salute to Sisters in Service 💙💖
A Women Veterans Day event celebrating the contribution of our sisters in arms and their accomplishments in business. 👏

06/12/2024
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Garden & Grain 50 East Garden Street B
Pensacola, FL 32502

Cost: $20 members - $25 nonmembers
Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and refreshments! 🤩

Event registration:
https://www.favob.net/event-5753506

This GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, provided by 's Office of Veterans Business Development.

Supporting Woman Veterans:

Business plan
Funding Opportunities
Educational Resources

Over 9,500 women veterans participated in WVETPs during fiscal year 2023!

Learn more about and resources:
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-locations/headquarters-offices/office-veterans-business-development

HAPPY NATIONAL DONUT DAY! 🍩🥳

Grab a donut and mark your calendar. You "do-nut" want to miss this entrepreneurial webinar!
6/11/24 5:30pm-8pm

HOW TO SET A PRICE FOR YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE.

You'll learn 5 methods of pricing, step by step instructions on how to implement them to determine optimal price for your product or service.

Registration link: 👇
https://bit.ly/3RhJc83

Multi area VBOC Directors mingle after the Conference in Orlando Florida 2024.

Powered by the

(NVSBC’s premier annual event focused entirely on GROWING YOUR BUSINESS!)

SWOT Your Business!

Learn how to SWOT your business in tonight's online class 6/6/24 8pm-9pm.

SCORE offers live webinars throughout the summer to support entrepreneurs. Mark your calendars.

Registration link below:
https://bit.ly/3x9bESP

SBA Veterans Small Business Advisory Committees Set to Host Quarterly Public Meetings on June 5 and 6

Wednesday, June
5 1-3 p.m. ET

Interagency Task Force (IATF) on Veterans Small Business Development Meeting
https://bit.ly/IATF-Jun24

Thursday, June 6
9 a.m.-3 p.m. ET

Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs Meeting
https://bit.ly/ACVBA-Jun24

Military spouse success stories that will truly INSPIRE you!

SBA Success Story: DocTerra Mobile Veterinary Services Find out how one military spouse grew her business with help from her local Veterans Business Outreach Center and SBA-backed loans. Learn more about SBA reso...

Did you know we offer entrepreneurial training for too?

Some amazing success stories!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3npgtsZ0PQ
Learn more about programs:
https://sba.my.site.com/s/

Empowering Military Spouses to Take Control of Their Career with SBA’s Pathway to Business Learn business ownership fundamentals with a schedule, peer group, and curriculum tailored to military spouses. Sign up for SBA's Pathway to Business class a...

Happy Memorial Day!
May we never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. ❤️🤍💙

Did you know we offer entrepreneurial training for too?


Some amazing success stories!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3npgtsZ0PQ

Learn more about programs:
https://sba.my.site.com/s/

Empowering Military Spouses to Take Control of Their Career with SBA’s Pathway to Business Learn business ownership fundamentals with a schedule, peer group, and curriculum tailored to military spouses. Sign up for SBA's Pathway to Business class a...

Military spouse looking for resources to start a small business?

Look no further, we can help you there.

See link to learn more about resources and tools available to you: 👇
Military Spouse Pathway to Business: https://bit.ly/3O1dbQy