TrailBlazers

The VetBiz TrailBlazers project is a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) and the Center for Faith Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI) to educate veteran small business owners on Federal contracting practices and procedures. This project utilizes community organizations, including faith-based resources, to inform veterans about help in pursuing Federal contracts and in linking new owners with volunteers (TrailBlazers) who are established business owners. The pilot sites for the program are Florida, North Carolina, Maryland and Ohio.

The pilot program will run for 24 months and the local Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) will be utilized as the resource center. The TrailBlazer will be committed to the business owner for a period of 12 months. During the 12 month period the TrailBlazer will agree to volunteer a minimum of eight hours per month in advising, coaching or troubleshooting operational problems encountered by the new owner and this time will be provided to the new owner free of charge. If beneficial, a technical expert may occasionally be used in partial completion of this responsibility. The PTAC can facilitate their meetings by providing a space for them to meet as well as counsel them on Federal contracting issues.

  The PTACs are very essential to the success of this program. The centers not only provide the space for the TrailBlazers to meet but they will also provide support and assistance as needed by the veteran small business owners to help them understand the Federal contracting process. The PTACs will advertise the program, help locate veteran small business owners that can benefit from the program and identify small business owners who can serve as TrailBlazers. VetBiz TrailBlazers is a great opportunity for veteran small business owners.

To sign up for the TrailBlazers program please send an email to VACVE@va.gov . 

To request a customized TrailBlazers poster click here.