As Memorial Day approaches, we pause to remember and honor the courageous men and women who are serving or have served their country—and who continue to serve and make a positive impact on their communities. Memorial Day is a reminder of the power of community and the importance of compassion. At Business Impact NW, we strive each day to honor the service and empower the success of our veterans and active-duty military personnel. They are the heart and soul of our mission.
Just this year, Region X VBOC was honored with the SBA’s Excellence in Service award as recognition for its immense impact on local economic growth, job creation, and support for veterans and our Nation’s newest entrepreneurs. Additionally, Business Impact NW received funding to establish a new Veterans Business Outreach Center in Alaska which will open to the public in Fall 2023 and provide valuable resources to the military community in Alaska.
We hope these accomplishments demonstrate our firm commitment to addressing challenges that aspiring and existing veteran and military spouse small business owners face—and helping them succeed through critical training and counseling services.
To the incredible active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve Component members, members of the Coast Guard, transitioning service members, Veterans of all eras, and military spouses who are thinking about starting, purchasing, or growing a small business—we welcome you and look forward to helping you achieve your goals and fulfill your dreams.
COMMITTED TO PROVIDING TRAINING AND FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENTREPRENEURS FROM THE U.S. MILITARY COMMUNITY
The Veteran Business Outreach Program is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, Veterans, National Guard & Reserve members and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. The SBA has 22 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC).
About the author
Janelle is a storyteller through and through. She was raised in a family of entrepreneurs who owned and managed a series of small businesses, including a Hawaiian restaurant, a video store, and several real estate properties. Growing up in a low-income community but attending schools as a minority in affluent areas, she struggled with the inequities she faced each day. As a Bay Area native, Janelle has witnessed the rise and fall of countless startups and small businesses. She has worked for a number of nonprofits and has remained steadfast in her commitment to using her craft to support the missions of each organization, and uplift underserved communities throughout the Bay Area.
Janelle graduated with a degree in Creative Writing, specializing in screenwriting and playwriting. She worked as a copywriter for companies such as Coldwell Banker, Callisto Media, a publisher of nonfiction and self-help books, and Artslandia magazine, a premier publisher of performing arts playbills throughout the Portland metro area. In a leap of faith, Janelle moved her family to Seattle in 2021 and worked with Committee for Children, an educational nonprofit committed to supporting the well-being of children through social-emotional learning.