|
|
Veteran business owner spotlight:
Ray Sheridan, Arthur Murray Dance Studio
|
 Ray Sheridan and his wife own the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in North Little Rock. Before his dancing days, Ray served in the United States Air Force.
In this brief video, he talks about his business, his military service, and the help he received from Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.
Watch video on YouTube
|
|
Government contracting opportunities
for veteran-owned businesses | |
The Pentagon's Small Business Programs Office (www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/) has announced that the Defense Department is getting close to its goal of awarding 3 percent of DoD's contracts to service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses. According to Armed Forces Press Service, $4.3 billion in contracts were awarded to disabled-veteran-owned small businesses in 2009, up from just $300,000 in 2003.
The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded 16 percent of its fiscal 2009 contracts to disabled-veteran businesses, exceeding its goal of 7 percent. Timothy Foreman, executive director of VA's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business, wants to ensure the contracts go to legitimate veteran-owned businesses. Adjusting the verification system for veteran- and disabled-veteran-owned businesses will cut down on fraud, he believes. By 2012, only VA-verified businesses will be visible in the database of eligible contractors. Foreman spoke about the verification process at a breakfast for veterans during the Arkansas Procurement Opportunities Conference April 27. Watch his presentation.
In Arkansas, veterans who want to sell to the government can get help from the Arkansas Procurement Assistance Center. APAC offers procurement training and can assist veteran-owned Arkansas small businesses with finding and qualifying for special set-asides in government contracting. Ruan Mitchell of APAC discusses ways the center works with veteran business owners in this one-minute video.
Contact APAC at 501.337.5355 or go to arcommunities.org/APAC.htm.
|
Next webinar: Writing a Business Plan
|
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center's series of live webinars for veterans will continue at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 27, with "Writing a Business Plan." The one-hour session will look at how to write a business plan that clearly defines the business concept and accurately evaluates the competition, risks, and anticipated costs. Veterans who own or want to own a small business are invited to participate.
The free webinars will continue on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month through October. Go to arkansasveteran.com/webinars to reserve a webinar seat.
|
|
St. Francis House serves homeless vets | |
St. Francis House of Little Rock has received a grant to aid homeless female veterans and veterans with families, the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service announced July 8.
The Veterans Re-Entry Program at St. Francis House provides transitional housing and a therapeutic environment, including counseling, meals, laundry, and activities, for homeless veterans having difficulty re-entering society. The average stay at St. Francis House, located on Elm Street in Little Rock, is three months but can be as long as two years. St. Francis House, a non-profit, began in 1970 as an outreach of the Episcopal Church.
Contact St. Francis House at 501.664.5036 to volunteer, contribute, or refer deserving individuals or families.
Learn more about St. Francis House
|
|
|
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Arkansas has a blog site, vfwwebcom.org/Arkansas. Recent posts include the first General Orders of the 2010-2011 Series with a list of new officers and information about the national convention coming up in August. For more information about the VFW in Arkansas, contact Department Headquarters. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday, and 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. on Friday. Mailing address: 4610 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood, AR 72160. Phone: 501.834.8392.
|
|
Summer fun: free museum admission
for military families
| |
More than 850 museums in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., are participating in Operation Appreciation: Blue Star Museums. The program offers active-duty service members -- including activated National Guard and Reserve members -- and up to five immediate family members free admission to participating museums through Labor Day. Five museums in Arkansas are participating, according to the Blue Star Museums website:
- Arkansas State University Museum, Jonesboro
- Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff
- Grant County Museum, Sheridan
- Museum of Discovery, Little Rock
- William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, Little Rock
|
SBA's Patriot Express tops $500 million
|
 In just three years, the U.S. Small Business Administration's Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative has supported nearly $500 million in Patriot Express loans to small businesses owned and operated by veterans, reservists and their spouses.
Patriot Express Loans, which can be used to start or expand a small business, increased over the past two years due in part to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which raised loan guarantees to 90 percent, and temporarily eliminated fees for borrowers on all SBA loans. To date more than 6,000 loans have been made.
Patriot Express loans are offered by SBA's network of participating lenders nationwide and feature one of SBA's fastest turnaround times for loan approvals. Patriot Express loans are available for up to $500,000.
The Patriot Express loan can be used for most business purposes, including start-up, expansion, equipment purchases, working capital, inventory or business-occupied real-estate purchases. Details on the initiative can be found at sba.gov/patriotexpress. |
|
Save the date:
Veterans Small Business School, Nov. 16
| |
Plan now to attend the ASBTDC's Veterans Small Business School on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at the Jacksonville Community Center. The event will include training sessions offering practical tools and guidance, networking with other entrepreneurs and veterans service providers, inspiring speakers, and lunch.
|
|
|
Vet Net is funded through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. | |
|
| |
Vet Net is a monthly newsletter produced by the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.
Our goal is to share information about services and opportunities available to Arkansas' veterans.
Veterans service providers are invited to contribute to Vet Net. Web links, online and print resources, articles, events, and other information welcome. The more we all know, the more we can assist our Arkansas vets!
Please send submissions to Gwen Green, ASBTDC communications coordinator, at gagreen@ualr.edu.
|
|
|
