During National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) celebrates, connects, and empowers service members (including National Guard and Reserve), veteran, and military spouse entrepreneurs and business owners—past, present, and future.

From Nov. 4-8, we’re highlighting resources to help veterans on their mission to successful business ownership, including information on how women veterans can propel their business forward through government contracting. As a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, I’m dedicated to supporting women veterans on their business ownership journey.

At the SBA, I work to empower them with the resources they need to identify, and compete for, federal contracting opportunities. There’s huge potential for women veteran business owners to grow their business through federal procurement.

Just last year, Women-Owned Small Businesses and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses received over $22 billion in contracting dollars. This could equate to over 121K jobs—a historic high for both! Plus, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses were awarded over $20.6 billion in contracts.

Whether you’re trying to win your first government contract or you’re an experienced federal contractor, the SBA and its resource network are available to support you:

• Women Business Centers (WBC):

  WBCs offer women entrepreneurs access to all of the SBA’s financial and procurement assistance programs. Your local center can connect you to online and in-person procurement trainings, matchmaking events, and contracting opportunities. Stop by your local WBC today to learn more.

• Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOC):
  

  VBOCs are available across the nation to support women veterans in all areas of business development, including government contracting. Find a VBOC near you to learn how you can leverage the procurement benefits set aside for both women- and veteran-owned businesses.

• Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP):

  The Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) is a veteran entrepreneurship program focused on federal procurement. VIP programs are free of charge, and each program is designed to meet you where you are in your government contracting journey—whether you’re just starting out, interested in growing in the field, or ready to take your business overseas.

For more information about SBA government contracting resources, check out the SBA Contracting Website.

On Thursday, November 7, I’ll be participating in the next ChallengeHER event in Huntsville, AL to discuss challenges, best practices, and resources available for women in government contracting. I’m excited for the opportunity to be on a panel specifically focused on women veterans in light of NVSBW and Veterans Day. Following the event, I’m attending a women veterans’ coffee with the Catalyst Center to chat with women veterans about their entrepreneurship experience—and hear their pain points surrounding the government contracting certification process.

I’d like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to Women Impacting Public Policy for including us in this important discussion around resources for women veterans in government contracting. For information on NVSBW and how you can get involved, visit sba.gov/vetbiz.