The Georgia Veterans Education Career Transition Center is in the business of helping military members and their families, now the United States Small Business Administration, through its Office of Veterans Business Development, awarded $280,000 to VECTR to help train those same individuals start their own business

Over the next five years, the SBA will potentially grant funds totaling $1.4 million to aid the VECTR Center in its operation of a Veterans Business Outreach Center, which provides training and counseling to current and aspiring veteran small business owners in Georgia and South Carolina. The SBA will evaluate VECTR annually to determine continued funding.

Beginning May 10, the VECTR Center assumed all responsibilities of the VBOC.

“Our team and the entire center is excited to be the entrepreneurial training provider for veterans and their spouses for both Georgia and South Carolina,” said Col. Patricia Ross (Ret.), chief operating officer of the VECTR Center. “As a one-stop-shop for military, veterans and their families, this fits directly into our mission. With our amazing team we can help individuals connect to the right resources after their training to pursue their dreams of starting their own business.”

The funding opportunity, offered by SBA’s OVBD is a one-year initial award with up to four additional one-year option periods, subject to the availability of funds. The funding is a part of $6.6 million awarded to 22 organizations nationwide.

The award expands the existing VBOC network from 20 to 22 centers across the nation, ensuring 100 percent geographic coverage. Each of the 22 awardees displays proven commitment and continued excellence in providing comprehensive entrepreneurial services to the veteran and military community – five of which are new to the SBA ecosystem.

This funding significantly expands the scope of the services offered by the VECTR Center. With the inclusion of South Carolina, the one-of-its-kind center now adds another locale and potential interstate bounty of resources and connections for its one-stop-shop or wrap around services.

Under one roof, The VECTR Center hosts partners from Georgia Department of Veteran Services, Georgia Department of Labor, the local Workforce Board, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the United Way/Mission United to collaboratively to meet the needs of military, veterans and their families.

Unique to the nation and military community at large, the VECTR Center continues to serve as the standard for education, training and transition services to veterans.