National Invest in Veterans Week®: A Transformative Alternative to Strengthen VetBiz Communities

While National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) highlights the entrepreneurial spirit of veterans through SBA-led events and resources, National Invest in Veterans Week® (NIVW) takes a more transformative and comprehensive approach to empower veteran-owned businesses. By offering global reach, targeted mentorship, and legislative advocacy, NIVW addresses systemic barriers in ways that NVSBW's localized initiatives do not fully encompass.

This deeper dive contrasts the approaches of NVSBW and NIVW, advocating for a model that not only celebrates veteran entrepreneurship but also drives long-term economic and social impact.

From Celebration to Transformation: Why NIVW Stands Out

1. Global Reach vs. Local Events

NVSBW focuses on nationwide SBA events that connect veterans to resources like VBOCs and funding programs. While helpful, these are often limited to one week and depend on regional partnerships.

In contrast, NIVW extends across 62 global markets, leveraging hyper-localized domains like FloridaVeterans.com and GermanyVeterans.com to provide year-round support. This international reach ensures that veteran entrepreneurs can access resources tailored to their local and global needs, fostering opportunities in diverse industries such as technology, green energy, and logistics.

2. Comprehensive Legislative Advocacy

NVSBW emphasizes SBA-backed resources such as 7(a) loans, VetCert, and federal contracting certifications like SDVOSB. These tools are essential but insufficient to address the larger structural challenges facing veteran entrepreneurs.

NIVW goes further by championing legislative efforts like the Invest in Veterans Stimulus Act, which proposes:

• Startup Tax Credits to offset initial business costs.

• Low-Interest Loans to make capital more accessible.

• Streamlined Federal Contracting to simplify the process for securing government contracts.

Learn more about these initiatives at Championing the Complete the Mission Act of 2024.

FeMil℠ and FeMil Lead℠: Targeted Support for Women Veterans

One of NIVW’s standout features is its dedication to underserved veteran groups, particularly women veterans. Through programs like FeMil℠ and FeMil Lead℠, NIVW empowers female entrepreneurs with tools such as:

• Funding Education to overcome systemic biases in capital access.

• Leadership Training to enhance their impact in business and community roles.

• Tailored Mentorship for scalable and sustainable growth.

NVSBW provides general resources for women through programs like the Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program, but NIVW’s year-round approach ensures a more sustained impact.

Economic and Social Impact: A Broader Vision

Economic Growth

While NVSBW focuses on immediate resources for individual businesses, NIVW drives systemic change by fostering collaborative networks and international opportunities. Veteran-owned businesses already contribute over $1.2 trillion annually to the U.S. economy; NIVW’s global model has the potential to scale this impact exponentially.

Social Empowerment

NIVW recognizes that veteran entrepreneurship is not just about profit—it’s about creating jobs, fostering innovation, and giving back to communities. By promoting initiatives like Kevin D. Shoun’s transformational leadership (read more here), NIVW builds a culture of resilience and community-driven success.

A Call to Elevate Veteran Advocacy

While NVSBW provides essential tools for veterans to navigate entrepreneurship, National Invest in Veterans Week® redefines what it means to support VetBiz communities. Its global reach, legislative advocacy, and focus on underrepresented groups make it a more impactful alternative for strengthening veteran entrepreneurship.

Get Involved:

• Explore global platforms like FloridaVeterans.com or EUVeterans.com to connect with opportunities tailored to your region.

• Support legislative efforts like the Invest in Veterans Stimulus Act to break systemic barriers.

• Join the conversation and learn more at National Invest in Veterans Week®.

Together, we can move beyond celebration and build a future where veteran entrepreneurs thrive as leaders, innovators, and community builders.

Drayton Florence: The Importance of Legislative Advocacy for Veteran-Owned Businesses: A Call to Action During Invest In Veterans Week

As a former National Football League player and co-founder of Tech From Vets, a veteran-owned technology development company, I know firsthand the obstacles veterans face when starting and growing businesses. From access to capital to networking opportunities, veteran entrepreneurs need support from both the private and public sectors. This is where legislative advocacy comes in.

The Need for Legislative Advocacy for Veteran-Owned Businesses

Despite the incredible sacrifices and skills veterans bring to the table, their businesses often face significant challenges. One of the most pressing is access to funding. While there are several programs and resources available for veteran entrepreneurs, navigating them can be difficult, especially for those who have recently left active duty. Additionally, many veteran-owned businesses struggle to find new clients or partners due to lack of connections or marketing resources.

Legislative advocacy can help overcome these obstacles. By creating legislation that prioritizes veteran-owned businesses for funding and partnerships, legislators can provide much-needed support for these enterprises. This type of advocacy can also help create awareness and increase visibility for veteran-owned businesses, leading to new partnerships and revenue streams.

Invest In Veterans Week: A Call to Action for Legislators

As we celebrate National Invest In Veterans Week, we must acknowledge the crucial role legislators play in supporting veteran-owned businesses. A national proclamation can bring much-needed attention to the challenges and opportunities facing veteran entrepreneurs. It can also provide a powerful call to action for legislators to prioritize legislation that supports veteran-owned businesses.

Legislation named after Invest In Veterans Week can provide a tangible way for legislators to demonstrate their commitment to supporting veterans. This legislation can include provisions that increase funding for veteran-owned businesses, provide incentives for private sector partnerships, and improve access to resources for veteran entrepreneurs.

Creating lasting change for veteran-owned businesses requires a comprehensive approach that involves both the private and public sectors. Legislative advocacy is an essential component of this approach, and a national Invest In Veterans Week proclamation can serve as a catalyst for change.

The Impact of Legislative Advocacy for Veteran-Owned Businesses

Legislative advocacy has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of veteran entrepreneurs. By prioritizing funding, partnerships, and resources for veteran-owned businesses, legislators can create new opportunities for these enterprises to thrive. This, in turn, can help create jobs, drive innovation, and strengthen local economies.

One example of the impact of legislative advocacy is the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP), which provides training and mentoring to veteran entrepreneurs. This program was created through the efforts of legislators and has since helped hundreds of veteran entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. Programs like VEP demonstrate the power of legislative advocacy and the potential for positive change.

Conclusion

As we honor our veterans during National Invest In Veterans Week, let us not forget the challenges faced by veteran-owned businesses. Legislative advocacy can provide critical support for these enterprises, and a national Invest In Veterans Week proclamation can help create the momentum needed to create lasting change. We urge legislators to take action and prioritize legislation that supports veteran-owned businesses. Together, we can create a brighter future for

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Jeff Shuford is an Iraq War veteran, nationally syndicated columnist, and co-founder of National Invest in Veterans Week. He's a thought leader in digital marketing and a powerful advocate for veteran entrepreneurs. Under his leadership, National Invest in Veterans Week has become a force in the world of entrepreneurship. The South Carolina Senate recognized his advocacy by issuing a proclamation in 2021.

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National Invest in Veterans Week Highlights Importance of Supporting Veteran-Owned Businesses and Employment Opportunities

For Immediate Release

National Invest In Veterans Week, a week-long event from March 1st to March 7th, is calling on businesses, organizations, and individuals to support veteran-owned businesses and employment opportunities. In partnership with Action Zone Tampa, a non-profit organization that supports veteran entrepreneurs, a series of events have been hosted throughout the week to promote the skills and leadership that veterans bring to the table as business owners and entrepreneurs.

During the first three days of the event, a variety of panels and workshops were held to support veteran entrepreneurs. These events focused on topics such as suicide prevention resources, employment opportunities, and resources for starting and growing a business. Many businesses and organizations have pledged their support, recognizing the importance of investing in veterans and their businesses. National Invest In Veterans Week and Action Zone Tampa have generated an outpouring of advocacy from supporters of veteran-owned businesses.

Through social media, many organizations, government officials, and supporters have advocated for the importance of supporting veterans and their businesses. The use of the event's hashtag has helped raise awareness about the challenges that veterans face when starting and growing their businesses, and promoted opportunities to invest in them.

On day 4 of the event, Action Zone Tampa will host a series of workshops and panels focused on job creation and economic growth through investing in veteran-owned businesses. This day will also highlight the many success stories of veteran-owned businesses and the positive impact they have had on their communities and the economy.

National Invest In Veterans Week and Action Zone Tampa continue to call on businesses, organizations, and individuals to join the effort to support veteran-owned businesses and employment opportunities. By investing in veterans, we can recognize and support the sacrifices and contributions of our veteran community, while promoting job creation and economic growth. To learn more about National Invest In Veterans Week and Action Zone Tampa, visit investinveteransweek.com and actionzonetampa.com, respectively.

About National Invest In Veterans Week

National Invest In Veterans Week is a week-long event that occurs annually from March 1st to March 7th. The purpose of this event is to raise awareness about the importance of investing in veteran-owned businesses and employment opportunities. It is a call to action for businesses, organizations, and individuals to support veterans in their entrepreneurial pursuits and recognize their unique skills and leadership abilities as business owners and entrepreneurs.