Office of Veterans Business Development
Veterans Business Outreach Program
The Veterans Business Outreach Program (VBOP) is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and mentoring, and referrals for eligible veterans owning or considering starting a small business. The SBA has four organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC).
Services Provided by the Centers
VBOCs conduct entrepreneurial development workshops dealing specifically with the major issues of self-employment. An important segment of these workshops entails the usage of the Internet as a tool for developing and expanding businesses. Each client is afforded the opportunity to work directly with a business counselor.
Concept Assessments: VBOCs assist clients in assessing their entrepreneurial needs and requirements.
Business Plan Preparations: VBOCs assist clients in developing and maintaining a five-year business plan. The business plan includes such elements as the legal form if the business, equipment requirements and cost, organizational structure, a strategic plan, market analysis, and a financial plan. Financial plans include financial projections, budget projections, and funding requirements.
Comprehensive Feasibility Analysis: VBOCs provide assistance in identifying and analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the business plan to increase the probability of success. The results of the analysis are utilized to revise the strategic planning portion of the business plan.
Entrepreneurial Training and Counseling: VBOCs, working with other SBA resource partners, target entrepreneurial training projects and counseling sessions tailored specifically to address the needs and concerns of the service-disabled veteran entrepreneur.
Mentorship: VBOCs conduct, as appropriate, on-site visits with clients to ensure adherence to their business plans. Additionally, VBOCs review monthly financial statements to determine whether a revision of the business plan is warranted or that desired results are being attained.
Other Business Developmental Related Services: VBOCs also provide assistance and training in such areas as international trade, franchising, Internet marketing, accounting, etc.
Center Locations and Areas of Coverage
Point of Contact Louis Celli, Jr. Phone:617-938-3933 Fax:617-507-7799 Email: lcelli@nevbrc.org Webpage: http://www.nevbrc.org The Research Foundation of the State University of New York SUNY @ Farmingdale SBDC
Point of Contact John Narciso Phone: Toll-free at 1-800-732-7232 Fax: 631-370-8895 Email: narcisja@farmingdale.edu Webpage: http://www.nyssbdc.org/services/veterans/veterans.html Robert Morris University
The University of West Florida in Pensacola
Point of Contact Tony Zacchio Phone: 1-800-542-7232 or 850-271-1108 Fax: 850-271-1109 Email: vets@vboc.org Webpage: http://www.vboc.org VetBiz Central, Inc
Point of Contact Edward Ronders/Matt Sherwood Phone: 810-767-8387 Fax: 810-767-8662 Email: ed@vetbizcentral.com or matt@vetbizcentral.com Webpage: http://www.vetbizcentral.com
The University of Texas - Pan American
Point of Contact
Alonzo Gracia Phone: 956-292-7547 Fax: 956-292-7561 Email: vboc@panam.edu Webpage: http://www.utpa.edu/vboc Veterans Advocacy Foundation, Inc. - Veterans Business Resource Center
Point of Contact
Darcella Craven Phone: 314-531-8387 Fax: 877-825-4190 Email: info@vetbiz.com Webpage: http://www.vetbiz.com
Vietnam Veterans of California - VBOC
Point of Contact
Coreena Conoley Phone: 916-393-1690 Fax: 916-393-1693 Email: admin@vboc-ca.org Webpage: http://www.vboc-ca.org |