The Center for Veterans Enterprise and The Veterans Corporation:
Important Self-Employment and Business Development Resources for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans

Fact Sheet

September 2005

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) maintains the world's most comprehensive system of healthcare, educational, disability, and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits. In February 2001, two new programs for veterans were established following the passage of The Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-50): The VA's Center for Veterans Enterprise, and the National Veterans Business Development Corporation (The Veterans Corporation). This fact sheet will present an overview of Public Law 106-50, and introduce the Center for Veterans Enterprise and The Veterans Corporation as important self-employment and business resources for American Indian and Alaska Native veterans with and without service-connected disabilities.

What is the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999?

The 1999 Act includes the creation of the Center for Veterans Enterprise and the National Veterans Business Development Corporation (The Veterans Corporation). The Act also establishes a "service-disabled" category of veterans for federal contracts; sets goals for contracts and sub-contracts given to veterans and service-disabled veterans for federal contracts; authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to defer repayment of business loans held by reservists recalled to active duty; requires VA to notify veterans in business about opportunities to do business with the federal government; and creates a formal agreement between the VA, SBA, and Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) to provide technical and management support to veteran entrepreneurs.

What is the Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE)?

The Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE), a sub-division of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, extends the VA's services to veterans who own or who want to start their own businesses. The Act expands the VA's authority to counsel veterans about self-employment and business expansions. The CVE helps veterans interested in forming or expanding small businesses. It also helps VA contracting offices identify veteran-owned small businesses and works with the Small Business Administration's Veterans Business Development Officers and Small Business Development Centers nationwide regarding veterans' business financing, management, and technical assistance needs. The CVE allows veterans to call or email to receive assistance from a national network of business specialists. Information about loans, business management programs, online training for entrepreneurs and procurement opportunities with federal, state and local agencies is available at the Center's Internet website at http://www.vetbiz.gov.

What is The Veterans Corporation?

The National Veterans Business Development Corporation (The Veterans Corporation) was created by the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999. The Veterans Corporation provides veterans with technical assistance in setting up small businesses. It is also responsible for preparing an annual report on veterans' business enterprises to Congress. The Veterans Corporation oversees a network of assistance centers that are available to help veterans who are interested in establishing or expanding their businesses, and provides assistance to people as they transition from the military to civilian jobs. It will also work with private business corporations to insure that they include veterans and service-disabled veterans as their business customers. Corporate members are the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration and six presidential appointees.

What is a Veteran Owned Business?

A veteran is a person who served on active duty with the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. People who were called to active duty, plus any reservist or National Guardsman who was injured while in training status, also qualify as veterans. To be considered a veteran-owned business, 51 percent of the ownership and control of the enterprise must be maintained by a veteran(s).

How can I learn more about The Center for Veterans Enterprise and The Veterans Corporation?

Information about the Center for Veterans Enterprise is available on the Internet at http://www.vetbiz.gov or by calling (866) 584-2344 (Toll Free), or (202) 565-8336. Information about The Veterans Corporation is available on the Internet at http://www.veteranscorp.org , or by calling (866) 283-8267 (Toll Free).

References:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (February 2001). VA Business Programs for Veterans.  Retrieved September 6, 2005 from http://www1.va.gov/OPA/fact/docs/ventfs.doc 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2001, February 14). VA Creates New Center for Veterans Enterprise. Retrieved September 6, 2005 from http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2005). 2005 Edition Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents. Retrieved September 5, 2005 from http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedben.pdf

This fact sheet is supported by a cooperative agreement (#H235K000002) with the U.S. Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration.

This fact sheet was developed by Alan P.
Fugleberg
American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center
The University of Montana Rural Institute
52 Corbin, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812-7056
Aidtac website