SIU to Host Nov. 13 Small Business Workshop for Military Veterans
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Military veteran small business owners and those aspiring to start a small business are invited to a resource workshop just for them at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development (OIED) on Nov. 13. The workshop is in celebration of National Veterans Small Business Week Nov. 9-13.
Veterans Small Business Week Resource Day
The Veterans Small Business Week Resource Day is from 9 a.m. to noon at SIU’s Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale. The entrepreneurial education and training program is free, but pre-registration is required. Register [here](link to registration page) and to also learn more information.
This workshop brings together several OIED programs — including the Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU, and Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIU, along with representatives of the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) powered by the U.S. Small Business Administration — to highlight resources and support available to veteran entrepreneurs. The VBOC program offers resources to veterans, service members, and military spouses who are interested in starting or growing a small business.
Learn more about resources for veteran-owned businesses
The workshop is open to military veterans and active-duty service members, including the National Guard and Reserve, and to their spouses.
Workshop Topics
- Government contracting, including Business Enterprise Program (BEP) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), and state certification processes.
- Available resources and programming opportunities.
- Networking with other veteran business owners.
Participants will learn how to launch, expand, and fortify their businesses during a panel discussion led by experienced veteran entrepreneurs.
The university’s APEX Accelerator is a unit of SIU’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development, so businesses get the extra benefit of the complete hub of resources. Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense and made possible through the support of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and SIU.
For more information, call [PHONE_REDACTED] or email [EMAIL_REDACTED].