Early this month the US Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it has renewed and extended a Veterans Business Outreach Center(VBOC) grant to the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) for $1.375 million over the next five years. This brings the total support from the SBA to $1.875 million. According to reports, the grant will go to support “the education, training and consulting services provided to veterans, National Guard, active duty and reserve component members and their spouses who are starting or growing a business in North Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.”
According to the Military Times UTA is the “No. 1 four-year institution in Texas for veterans and their families to earn a degree” and No. 14 in the nation. An estimated 5,000 veterans and military family members are currently pursing a degree at the university today.
The VBOCs are a government lead program with offices and initiatives throughout the nation. The program is directed by the “Small Business Act to participate in the Defense Department’s Transition Assistance Program. Since 2013, the Boots to Business program has trained more than 40,000 transitioning service members, reservists, National Guard members and military spouses. The VBOCs also counsel and mentor approximately 60,000 veteran clients each year.”
