Grants For Veterans To Start A Business

Veterans can pursue their dreams of owning their businesses with the aid of various small-enterprise grants. A grant is unrestricted funding given to individuals to support a business starting, initiating, or expanding. Given that you are not required to pay back the grantor, it differs from a loan.

Here, we will discuss 15 available grants for veterans to start a business in 2023.

Let’s get started.

Also check: 15 Best Single Mothers Grants for Housing in 2023

Veteran Housing Grants
Veteran Health Grants
Overview Of The List Of Grants For Veterans To Start A Business
List Of Grants For Veterans To Start A Business
Application Guidelines for Veteran Business Grants
Resources for veteran entrepreneurs
FAQs
Conclusion
References
Recommendations

Veteran Housing Grants

The American government offers two grants to assist disabled veterans in purchasing a home or making necessary modifications to an existing one. The Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant provides financial aid for veterans with particular disabilities to build a new home or adapt to an existing one to live independently.

The Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant is for veterans who want to buy a home that has already been modified to accommodate their disability or to modify an existing house owned by the veteran or a family member.

Veteran Health Grants

All veterans are eligible for health benefits from the U.S. government (barring dishonorable discharge). The Department of Veterans Affairs offers several healthcare benefits. Hospital care, outpatient treatments, specialist medical services, dentistry, vision, and preventative maintenance are among the services provided.

Healthcare services are free if a medical issue is caused by their service, as long as income requirements are met. Veterans can submit applications by phone, mail, in person, or online through the V.A. website.

Also check: 10 Best Grants For CDL Students In 2023 | Apply Now

Overview Of The List Of Grants For Veterans To Start A Business

Here is the list of available grants for veterans to start a business:

Warrior Rising Small Business Grants.
Second Service Foundation.
The American Chamber of Commerce’s Dream Big Awards.
Budweiser Veterans Project.
Citizens Help4Heroes Program.
Hivers and Strivers
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program
Street Shares Foundation Veteran Small Business Award
Warrior Rising Small Business Grants
Grants.gov
GrantWatch
Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC)
Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (VWISE)
Veteran Readiness and Employment
Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP)

List Of Grants For Veterans To Start A Business

Below is the list of grants available for veterans:

#1. Warrior Rising Small Business Grants

Warrior Rising is a nonprofit that provides grants for veterans to start a business of their wish. Vets who participate in pitch competitions can get cash for their business ideas.

Additionally, the board offers educational possibilities, such as its six-step business development program, which trains veterans and their wives and offers networking, coaching, and one-on-one mentorship.

You must be a veteran of the U.S. military or a member of that veteran’s immediate family to be eligible for Warrior Rising Small Business Grants. Both new and established companies are eligible to apply.

Get Grant Here

Also check: 15 Best Grants for Solar Panels in Scotland | 2023 Requirements

#2. Second Service Foundation

Another nonprofit organization, the Second Service Foundation, formerly the StreetShares Foundation, was established to train and provide grants for veterans to start a business after many years of service.

Its neighborhood offers courses and informational resources on mental health, children and families, unemployment and underemployment, homelessness, and disaster relief.

Along with providing financial assistance to veterans through its award program, Military Entrepreneur Challenge, the group also hosts networking events, mentorship programs, and other programs.

Get Grant Here

#3.The American Chamber of Commerce’s Dream Big Awards

Through its Dream Big Awards program, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce provides cash to small businesses. Each year, winners are selected and given prizes totaling $25,000.They also offer grants for veterans to start a business or grow their ventures.

Get Grant Here

Also check: 10 Best Grants For Heat Pumps In U.K. | 2023 Requirements

#4. Budweiser Veterans Project

This Veterans Day, Budweiser is providing startup funding to veteran-owned businesses. Veterans of the U.S. armed forces need to comment on one of the company’s chosen social media postings mentioning their military branch and how the prize money would benefit their business.

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#5. Citizens Help4Heroes Program

Citizens Financial Group is partnering with Military Warriors Support Foundation to provide grants to veterans to start a business or maintain their ventures. $300,000 has been allocated for the Hope4Heroes program.

Grant recipients may utilize them for various things, including remodeling, investing in new technology, and training. Business owners must be honorably discharged U.S. military veterans to be eligible.

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#6. Hivers and Strivers

An angel investment club called Hivers and Strivers invests in companies run and managed by veterans. The company’s Venture Capital for Veterans initiative provides early-round investment funding. The organization also gives grants to veterans to start a business of their choice.

The available funding ranges from $250,000 to $1 million.

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Also check: Top 15 Grants For Homeless Individuals In 2023 | Requirements

#7. Combat Female Veterans Families United (CFVF United)

This group supports female veterans financially through advocacy, education, and transitional activities. Emergency financial aid is available from the organization to female combat veterans who are transitioning back to civilian life. The company also provides female veterans grants to start a business of their choice.

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#8. Street Shares Foundation Veteran Small Business Award

Veteran entrepreneurs may be interested in submitting a grant application through the charitable Street Shares Foundation. Through its Military Entrepreneur Challenge, the organization’s grant program, the Veteran Small Business Award, offers three separate grants, which are;

$15,000 for first place.
$6,000 for Second place
$4,000 for third place

In addition to monetary prizes, the winner will receive pro bono legal services worth $25,000. A $1,000 scholarship at the Synergy Learning Institute is also awarded to each finalist. The first, second, and third-place winners receive more great scholarships, ranging from $3,000 to $10,000.

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#9. Dixon Center

To help female veterans and their families struggling financially, The Dixon Center gives one-time grants through its Women Veterans Emergency Financial Assistance program.

Veterans’ grants can be used to pay for various expenses, including petrol, job training, housing fees, etc. Veterans’ grants can also be used to start up a business.

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#10. Grants.gov

Many small business owners, including veterans, can benefit from Grants.gov as a reliable resource. The database, which contains more than 1,000 grant programs from various federal agencies, is under the control of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

These organizations give out more than $500 billion in grants annually. Also, Grants.gov provides grants for veterans to start a business or maintain their ventures.

Get Grant Here

Also check: Best Grants for Home Improvements in U.K. | 2023 Application Guide

#11. GrantWatch

GrantWatch is a company that assists veterans in obtaining grant opportunities for both professional and private endeavors (including home-buying and home improvement).

Additionally, GrantWatch provides grants for veterans to start a business or maintain their ventures. The comprehensive database includes information on more than 28,000 funding possibilities from numerous sources across the United States, Canada, and U.S. Territories.

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#12. Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC)

The VBOC program was created by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help veteran business owners in various ways. Some priceless resources made accessible through this program are business training services, mentoring, aid with the transition out of active duty, and counseling.

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#13. Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (VWISE)

The VWISE program is yet another tool provided by the SBA. For this initiative, female veterans can apply for business training from prominent businesspeople and educators across the nation.

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#14. Veteran Readiness and Employment

Veterans who have disabilities due to their service can take part in the Veteran Readiness and Employment program. The agency provides grants for veterans to start a business, look for employment, return to work, and more.

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#15. Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP)

The Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs administers the VEP program. VEP’s goal is to provide veterans grants to start a business venture or increase profits in existing businesses.

It is available to qualified veterans with service-connected impairments and veterans who excelled in the military.

Get Grant Here

Also check: Disability Grants For Furniture In The U.K. | 2023 Requirements

Application Guidelines for Veteran Business Grants

Here are some recommendations for applying for veteran business grants:

#1. Ensure Your Eligibility

Grant applications can be time-consuming and irritating. Therefore, it’s critical not to waste your precious time applying for cash prizes for which you are ineligible.

Examine all of the prerequisites before submitting any veteran grant applications. Even among grants for veterans, some might only be available to disabled veterans, those who received honorable discharges, veterans starting new businesses, and more.

#2. Follow Instructions

You want your application for a grant to be comprehensive and detailed. It’s crucial to complete the application and provide additional supporting paperwork.

Keep track of deadlines, both for the initial submission and any follow-ups, to avoid losing out on valuable funding opportunities owing to a mistake on your part.

#3. Consider Who Will Review the Application

It’s crucial to consider who will examine your application and what they are looking for when you submit a grant application. An investigator must be more familiar with your company or business concept.

Therefore, give specific information about your firm, including how you plan to use the grant win to advance your company.

#4. Proofread

Spend time editing your grant application before submitting it and any necessary documentation (perhaps multiple times). For some reviewers, grammatical errors or missing information may be a turn-off.

Additionally, you want to take every possible step to distinguish your company from the competition.

Resources for veteran entrepreneurs

Grant programs are one way to launch and expand a business. For seasoned business owners, there are numerous additional resources accessible.

View this:

#1. Boots to Business (B2B)

They provide all entrepreneurs with free, two-day training and education. The SBA offers a program that teaches veterans and their spouses how to run a business. You can take the B2B Revenue Readiness course for further business training after finishing the two-day in-person course.

#2. Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

The program provides training and career options while assisting veterans in locating federal contracts and franchise opportunities. To find resources, visit the Veteran Entrepreneur Portal.

#3. Veterans Business Outreach Centers

Through workshops, management training, and mentorship, this program equips veterans with the knowledge and resources they need to create their businesses. You can locate small-business funding opportunities there because it is a component of the SBA.

#4. Veteran Institute for Procurement

In the U.S., this institute offers training to vet and disabled vet business owners. It also aids in getting federal contracts for vetting. Additionally, it provides business accelerator training courses for veterans with new or growing enterprises. You can attend networking, educational events, and community support by joining.

FAQs

How many companies in the U.S. are owned by veterans?

Veteran-owned business numbers by state. The total number of veteran-owned businesses in the U.S. is 2,449,477.

Which state has the largest population of veterans?

Texas had the highest number of veterans of any state in 2021, with roughly 1.4 million. That year, the top five states with the highest veteran population were Florida, California, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Who Are the States with the Fewest Veterans?

In 2021, veterans made up 6.4% of the country’s overall population, but they were concentrated in some states much more than others. With 3.9%, New Jersey has the lowest veteran population.

Which state is most tolerant of veterans?

The second-best state overall for veterans to live in is Florida in 2023. Florida has several incredible advantages available for veterans. For instance, Florida is one of 17 states with a 100% P&T VA rating that completely exempts veterans from paying property taxes.

Which State Is Generally The Best For Veterans?

Overall, Texas is the state that offers the most benefits to veterans. No other state can compare to Texas’ benefits for veterans.

Conclusion

We’ve listed 15 grants in this article that you can use to launch a business in 2023 if you’re a veteran. We have also given you some advice on how to apply for veteran business funding.

15 Grants For Veterans To Start A Business

Table of contents

Veteran Housing Grants

Veteran Health Grants

Overview Of The List Of Grants For Veterans To Start A Business