FSU Veterans Business Outreach Center Receives Excellence Award
Fayetteville State University's (FSU) Veterans Business Outreach Center was honored with the National Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence Award 2020. The Award was made during the 2020 National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and honored resource partners for their impact on local economic development, and support of small business creation and growth across the nation. Additionally, all of SBA's resource partners were recognized for providing resources to small businesses as they worked to sustain their operations and employees, as well as pivot and retool amid the global pandemic.
FSU and other award winners were recognized during virtual events held on September 22-24, 2020. Each year, the SBA counsels, trains and advises more than one million entrepreneurs and small business owners with the help of its resource partners. Together, SBA Resource Partners provide business consulting, access to capital, mentoring services, specialized training, and the expertise for each stage of a business's lifecycle. Their outstanding efforts have supported the growth of small businesses, which in turn drives the nation's economy. Entrepreneurs receiving resource partner assistance are more likely to start a business and successfully obtain the financing necessary for business growth.
The FSU Veterans Business Center is under the direction of Tamara Bryant. The center provides veterans, active duty, and military spouses with the tools needed to establish and grow their businesses, generate profits, and become essential contributors to the economic development of North Carolina. Last year, the VBOC at FSU counseled 734 clients, contributing to the creation of 92 jobs. Thanks to a strong partnership with local lenders, the center helped clients access more than $1.2 million in startup and expansion capital. The center also conducted 43 Boots to Business and Boots to Business Reboot classes, with 672 participants across four installations. During 2019, the center also organized 60 seminars and training sessions for 1,558 participants.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.