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Build Your Business With Veterans Business Outreach Center
Committed to providing training and financing opportunities to entrepreneurs from the U.S. Military community.
Welcome to the Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs) at Business Impact NW. Our outreach centers empower active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve Component members, members of the Coast Guard, transitioning service members, Veterans of all eras, as well as military spouses who are thinking about starting, purchasing or growing a small business. We offer training opportunities, one-on-one coaching, referrals to resource partners, and networking events in our centers’ coverage area. Our Alaska center covers the State of Alaska, while our Northwest center covers the States of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
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Our Goals
- Increase the number of Veteran-owned small businesses
- Maximize jobs created by and for those businesses
- Reinforce the growth, profit, and value of each business
What You Can Gain
- Support in creating a comprehensive business plan and financial projections
- Understanding of your funding options
- Help preparing loan packages and presentations for lenders and potential investors
- Skills to help you manage business profitability
- Help identifying business expansion options
- And more!
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Business Coaching
To get assistance in one or more of these areas, register for coaching. If you’ve already been assigned a team member, send them an email.
Loan Readiness
If you are looking to apply for funding through Business Impact NW or another institution, we offer training and coaching on what you need (in addition to a good business plan and financial projections) in order to apply for funding.
Resource Referrals
In partnership with the SBA and through outreach we conduct, we have developed a network of partners who can assist with your business needs.
Comprehensive Feasibility Analysis
A feasibility analysis helps you ask the correct questions and formulate an approach to answering those questions – before launching a business.
Financial Planning
Our coaches can work with you as you prepare your financial projections. We can walk you through financial planning workbooks and provide you the resources you will need to complete well-researched financial projections for your business.
Assistance with your Lean or Business Model Canvas
The Lean Model Canvas and Business Model Canvas are great pre-venture planning tools. We provide training on these tools which includes how to relate your canvas to a business plan.
Guidance with Business Planning
Our accredited business coaches can guide you on developing and/or maintaining a business plan. We do so through various workshops, one-on-one coaching, and access to business planning platforms. The business plan includes such elements as the legal form of the business, equipment requirements and cost, organizational structure, a strategic plan, market analysis, and a financial plan & projections.
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Sign Up for Coaching with the Region X VBOC
Our partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration requires all clients to register with an online service request before we can provide assistance. This form also acts as Confidentiality and Code of Conduct Agreements. All client information is held in strict confidence. Any request for technical assistance (business coaching, training, or counseling) is FREE and CONFIDENTIAL!
To unlock your access to all of our classes and the ability to receive free one-on-one business coaching:
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Classes & Training
Visit our VBOC-specific classes by viewing our calendar, or read more about our featured classes below. You can also contact us to learn about Military Spouse specialized programming.
Boots to Business
Boot to Business (B2B) is an entrepreneurial education and training program offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program. The curriculum includes steps for evaluating business concepts, the foundational knowledge required to develop a business plan, and information on available SBA resources to help access start-up capital and additional technical assistance. This class is for transitioning service members (including National Guard and Reserve) and spouses who have access to a military installation.
Boots to Business Reboot
The Boots to Business Reboot brings Boots to Business off the installation, extending access to veterans of all eras, National Guard and Reserve, and military spouses.
Grow with a Pro
Whether you are in the idea or growth phase of your business, we invite you to attend our quarterly Grow with a Pro panel. During the panel we will hear from Financial, Commercial Insurance, Tax, and Legal Professionals, who will chat about their area of expertise as it relates to current times. We will have an opportunity for a few of your non-confidential questions to get some answers. We’ll even be offering you opportunities to connect with other business owners!
Your Business – Start Smart
Our Your Business – Start Smart series is a self-paced, on-demand course that provides an overview of the steps you need to take to start your business. This course will help you as you work with a business coach.
ASPIRE Military Spouse Program
Demystifying entrepreneurship for military spouses wanting to start or grow a business: ASPIRE is a 4-week program that introduces the topics of entrepreneurship within a virtual class setting.
All Business Impact NW Classes
Check out all of the free and low-cost trainings offered by Business Impact NW, including Launch and Grow, Grow and Thrive, Business Expert Sessions, and many webinars (both live and on-demand). Sign up for our newsletter so you can stay apprised of trainings, events, and other information pertinent to small business ownership.
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About Us
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 28 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC).
Meet the Northwest VBOC Team
- Meet your Director – Chris Armstrong-Goings Sr.
- Meet your Administrative Team – Bo Abeille & Barbara Orts
- Meet your Business Coach – Jessica Conaway
- Meet your Boots to Business Trainer and Coach – Michael Reis
- Meet your Boots to Business Trainer and Coach - Jasmin Garcia
Meet the Alaska VBOC Team
- Meet your Director – Traci Willett
- Meet your Administrative Team – Tianie Olson
- Meet your Boots to Business Trainer and Coach – Cat Mason
- Meet your Boots to Business Trainer and Coach - Michael Reis
- Meet your Boots to Business Trainer and Coach - Melissa Welsh
If you don’t have a business coach yet, all you need to do is register here!
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From idea, to plan, to business start,
let us help you launch your dream.
We work with you to take your
established business to the next level.
We work with you to secure funding
for your business to thrive
Nationally
Veteran-owned businesses employ 5 million people in the US
Veteran-owned businesses make up 9% of all US small businesses
1 in 3 veteran-owned employer businesses generates over $500,000 in annual revenue
LOCALLY IN 2022
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Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact vboc@businessimpactnw.org or call 206.324.4330.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the US 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.
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Sustaining Partners
