Programs Supporting Veteran Entrepreneurs
This Veterans Day, we'd like to share our appreciation for the many veteran-owned small businesses in our community.
If you are a veteran interested in starting or growing your own business, there are programs across Oregon that help you with certifications, financing, and government contracting. These resources can help empower you to compete for contracts, prepare for loans, and connect with opportunities throughout the region.
If you’d like to learn more about contracting with the local government, visit our Procurement & Contracting Opportunties page for more information.
Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) Certification
The Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) certification is part of Oregon’s Certification Office of Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) program. This certification is for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.
In Oregon, government agencies often have goals or requirements to award contracts to COBID-certified businesses. Becoming certified can help your business stand out when bidding on projects with state, county, or city governments, as well as universities, hospitals, and other public institutions.
Certification Assistance
Going through the COBID certification process can take time. The Oregon APEX Accelerator offers free one-on-one support to help businesses apply for COBID certification and compete for government contracts. Visit their website to learn more and sign up as a client to get started.
Veterans Business Outreach Center at Business Impact NW
The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) at Business Impact NW support veterans and military spouses, who are thinking about starting, purchasing or growing a small business.
It offers workshops and personalized business coaching to strengthen business and financial planning. These services also help improve loan readiness and open up funding opportunities for growth. The VBOC supports the SBA Veteran Small Business Certification, which is a federal-level certification as described below.
SBA Veteran Small Business Certification
At the federal level, the SBA Veteran Small Business Certification allows veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) to compete for set-aside and sole-source contracts within the Department of Veterans Affairs through the Vets First Program.
Certified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) will have the opportunity to compete for sole-source and set-aside contracting opportunities across all federal agencies.
