Since 2012, the San Luis Valley SBDC has provided one-on-one business consulting and specialized training and programs for veterans and their families in the Pikes Peak Region. We are dedicated to helping veterans become successful. We have consultants specializing in sales, marketing, government contracting, certifications and financials, many of whom are also veterans, to meet with you one-on-one, at no cost, to help bring your business to the next level. Contact us and let us know you are a veteran to schedule an appointment with one of our specialized veteran consultants.
Join us each year as we offer our Veteran’s Small Business Conference, which has been held in Colorado Springs since 2007. This event brings together subject experts on a variety of topics all aimed specifically at the veteran entrepreneur. The day concludes with a networking event and cocktail hour. Watch our events page for conference announcements or join our newsletter for monthly announcements in your inbox.
Thank you for serving our country. We’re here to serve you and your business venture.
Veteran's Resources
State/Local
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VetFriends
The VetFriends.com Veterans Business Directory is honored to serve and help promote Veteran owned or operated companies in Colorado, and nationwide. Additionally, the Veterans Business Directory welcomes all companies who honor and support U.S. Veterans & Military to sign up today. -
PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Center)
Colorado PTAC assists Colorado businesses do business with Federal, State and Local Governments. -
Colorado SBA Small Business Resource Guide
Overview of SBA Resources for small business -
Colorado Business Resource Book
The Colorado Business Resource Book is one of the most successful and comprehensive business start-up guides in the nation. -
Colorado VA Hospital Project Links
The above links provide information and resources about the new Veterans Administration Medical Center. Project progress, identifying subcontracting opportunities, and counseling and training opportunities for Colorado Veteran-owned companies can found by following the links. -
Colorado Lending Source (CLS)
Colorado Lending Source is a private, nonprofit, economic development organization with a mission to foster the economic growth of diverse small businesses within our communities. - OEDIT Business Venture Funds Resources List
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Veterans Incubator of Colorado
We are a nonprofit integrated business accelerator that provides veterans with support to start and sustain a business. -
Operation Boots to Business
A three-phase training program developed to introduce and train transitioning service members to business ownership, Boots to Business begins during the service member’s transition from the service (TAP or TAMP) and can continue if the service member decides to self-select into Phase II and III. -
VetNet Colorado Springs
To join together military veteran business owners and entrepreneurs around Colorado Springs, while providing opportunities for personal and business growth through education, networking, and leadership opportunities within the community.
National/Federal
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VetStarter
Vetstarter is a 501c3 non-profit crowdfunding platform for combat disabled veteran business startups. -
U.S. Small Business Administration: Office of Veterans Business Development (SBA)
Serves as a liaison with the veterans business community; performs policy analysis and reporting; acts as an Ombudsman for veterans in SBA programs; provides business training, counseling, and assistance; and oversees the Federal procurement programs for veteran and service disabled veteran-owned small businesses with services -
VeteranOwnedBusiness.com: Colorado Directory
A free registry for all Colorado veteran-owned and voluntarily registered businesses that assists in marketing veteran-owned small businesses to a larger market within Colorado. -
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
OSDBU seeks to enable Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs), Small Disadvantaged Businesses, HUBZone Businesses, and Woman-Owned Small Businesses to add value to the work of VA. -
U.S. Department of Defense: Office of Small Business Programs
Advises the Secretary of Defense on all matters related to small business and is committed to maximizing the contributions of small business in DoD acquisitions through various small business services and programs including service-disabled veteran-owned small business programs to improve access to prime and subcontracting opportunities. -
U.S. General Services Administration: Office of Small Business Utilization
Advocates for small, disadvantaged, veteran, service disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone and women business owners for increased access to GSA’s nationwide procurement opportunities -
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Center for Veterans Enterprise
Provides free professional development and business resources, minimizes access barriers and promotes the benefits of working with veteran-owned businesses to the public -
American Corporate Partners
Offers a nationwide mentoring program dedicated to helping veterans transition from the armed services to private enterprise through career counseling and networking -
Federal Business Opportunities
Federally administered website which provides a search engine allowing for veteran, small business owners to search for federal contracting opportunities. -
U.S. Department of the Air Force: Small Business
Provides Air Force contract opportunities to small businesses, with preference given to minority and veteran owned small business owners -
U.S. Department of the Army: Office of Small Business Programs
The Army's OSBP intends to bring faster, more efficient information on Army forecasted procurement opportunities, thereby providing the business community adequate time to develop business strategies. Army OSBP also seeks to ensure that every small business concern and HBCU/MI that wishes to do business with the Army has the necessary knowledge about the program and tools to successfully participate either as a prime contractor or a subcontractor. -
U.S. Department of Navy: Office of Small Business Programs
Offers service disabled veteran-owned small businesses, historically underutilized business zone (HUBZone) small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses and women-owned small businesses the opportunity to participate in the Department of Navy’s acquisition program both as prime contractors and subcontractors with services -
United States Coast Guard: Acquisition Directorate
Provides practicable opportunities in contract acquisitions to small business, veteran-owned small business, service disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business and women owned small business concerns with services -
Business.gov
Business.gov is the US Government's official website for small businesses. Business.gov provides small business owners with information and resources they need to comply with laws and regulations, and to take advantage of government programs and services to help them start, expand, and run their businesses. Business.gov is the only government service to provide access to Federal, state, and local government from a single website. Small business owners no longer need to visit multiple websites to find forms, contact info, guidance with laws and regulations, and help applying for government assistance programs. -
National Resource Directory (NRD)
Gives access to services and resources at the national, state and local levels to support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration for service members, veterans, wounded warriors and their families and caregivers by supplying helpful links to veteran-specific resources concerning benefits and compensation, education and training, employment, family and caregiver support, health, homeless assistance, housing, transportation and travel. -
BUZGate.org
BUZGate.org provides an easy-to-use robust gateway to business mentors, information, goods, and services tailored to supporting small business start-up, growth, and profitability. BUZGate.org provides a reliable, trusted network where users can build knowledge and establish productive business-to-business relationships. Website content focuses on educating individuals about thousands of free and low-cost public assistance programs and productivity-enhancing business solutions that exist to support their entrepreneurial progress. -
Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE): Business Development
IAE's federal website allows for easier access to government contract opportunities for American businesses. -
Where in Federal Contracting?
Wifcon.com serves the federal acquisition community by providing quick access to acquisition information such as contracting laws and pending legislation, current and proposed regulations, guidance, courts and boards of contact appeals, bid protest decisions, contracting newsletters, and selected analysis of federal acquisitions issues. -
ChangeCorp: for Veteran Entrepreneurs
Assists veteran small business owners in the operation of their business. Also serves as a startup resource for those veterans looking to begin their own small business venture. The information contributed by the online community of veteran small business owner’s allows for the constant rating and revision of those small business resources as offered on the website. -
National Economic Opportunity Fund (NEOF)
Supports financial products and resources for small businesses in low-income areas. Particular respect is paid to those service disabled veterans who seek to develop a business with the aim of improving the status of his/her local community. Expanded business opportunities have become available through the NEOF for veteran small business owners owing to a recent agreement between NEOF and the Veterans Corporation. -
Wounded Warrior Project
Dedicated to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members with services -
The Veterans Corporation
The National Veterans Business Development Corporation (also known as The Veterans Corporation and "TVC") was established by Congress under Public Law 106-50 to expand the provision of and improve access to technical assistance regarding entrepreneurship for veterans. TVC works with and organizes public and private resources and the business development staff of each Federal department and assists veterans and service-disabled veterans with start-up and expansion of small businesses. -
The Abilities Fund
The Abilities Fund is the first nationwide nonprofit community developer and financial institution focused exclusively on expanding entrepreneurial opportunities, including access to capital, for people with disabilities. -
Accion
Accion's goal is to increase access to business credit, make loans, and provide training to help emerging and existing entrepreneurs realize their dreams. - Department of Veterans Affairs - Verification Program
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Vet Fran
IFA’s VetFran strategic initiative, founded in 1991, includes over 580 IFA member companies offering financial incentives, training and mentoring to veterans interested in small business ownership and/or a career path in franchising. -
Veterans Enterprise
We are dedicated to the employment, education, and advancement of America's proud servicemen and women. We aim to spread awareness of issues and opportunities concerning veterans through news and by connecting them with employers who recruit highly trained and motivated transitioning soldiers. The careers and organizations listed here are dedicated to these ends. -
US Department of Defense, Office of Small Business Programs
We advise the Secretary of Defense on all matters related to small business and are committed to maximizing the contributions of small business in DoD acquisitions. We provide leadership and governance to the Military Departments and Defense Agencies to meet the needs of the nations' Warfighters, creating opportunities for small businesses while ensuring each tax dollar is spent responsibly.
