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Do You Have a Buy Veteran Success Story?

In late 2009, NaVOBA commissioned a national poll of average American consumers from all walks of life and asked them to share their feelings about the men and women who served in the military.

Not surprisingly 95 percent of respondents said they feel a sense of gratitude to our nation’s military. And, 70 percent of those respondents said they’d be more inclined to purchase products and services from a business identified as veteran-owned versus one that is not.

In 2010, we rolled out the Buy Veteran campaign with the identifying “Veteran-Owned Business” badge, coupled with the directory at www.BuyVeteran.com, to make it easy for customers who want to buy veteran to find those veteran-owned businesses.

How has the Buy Veteran movement impacted your business? Have you seen a big spike in sales? Is there a noticeable increase in foot traffic? Have customers told you that they found you on BuyVeteran.com? Have you had customers thank you for your service or share stories about their connection to the military?

We’re looking for stories to feature in the next issue of Vetrepreneur magazine. We would love for you to share your story about the boost your business has enjoyed since you displayed your badge and proudly promoted your veteran-owned status.

As our way of saying thanks, each vetrepreneur featured in the magazine will receive a free official “Buy Veteran” polo shirt, a $34.99 value.

Send an e-mail to editorial@navoba.com today to share your story.

Posted by Matthew Pavelek at 12/28/2010 02:42 PM

Department of Veterans Affairs Launches Mentoring Program to Help Vetrepreneurs Land Contracts with VA

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has selected 20 mentor-protégé teams to participate in a new program to help small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans and other veteran-owned small businesses become more competitive in the marketplace.

“For VA, it’s a natural goal to award government contracts to qualified veteran-owned small businesses,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Not only does it benefit the veteran entrepreneur, but VA gets the contractor support it needs more quickly and with less risk. All Veterans win by getting better services from VA.”

The program commits participating firms to agreements of up to 36 months in which mentoring firms provide business assistance in various skill areas and foster long-term business relationships with their Veteran-owned protégé firms. The mentor and protégé firms will prepare their own agreements.

VA said it plans to select five more pairs of mentor and protégé firms next month. VA will select additional mentor-protégé teams next August and approximately every six months thereafter.

More information on the new program can be found at http://www.va.gov/osdbu.

Posted by Matthew Pavelek at 12/22/2010 09:54 AM

NaVOBA Member ESN Wins a $38 Million Contract Modification to Provide Information Technology Services Supporting Hill Air Force Base, in Ogden, Utah

NaVOBA member Engineering Services Network Inc. (ESN) was recently awarded a contract worth up to $38 million from Hill Air Force Base in Utah, to provide information technology services. The contract begins Jan. 1. 2011 and ESN will provide base-wide network, desktop and server support to Hill AFB, an Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) base.

“Team ESN is honored to be entrusted with this mission to support Hill Air Force Base,” said Ray Lopez, CEO of ESN, which has a long history of serving the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Department of Defense (U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Military Sealift Command). “Our mission is to deliver top-notch IT and engineering solutions above and beyond our customers' expectations.”

Under this contract, ESN will provide both unclassified (NIPR) and secret (SIPR) Internet Protocol Router services, including help desks, system administration, information assurance and protection, desktop engineering, asset management, network, messaging and directory services and server support. In addition, ESN will provide automated data processing equipment (ADPE) classified and unclassified hard-drive preparation and destruction.

To learn more about ESN visit http://www.esncc.com/index.htm

Posted by Matthew Pavelek at 12/21/2010 11:42 AM

SBA Patriot Express Loan Program Renewed for Three More Years

The Patriot Express Loan program provided more than $560 million in loan guarantees to nearly 7,000 veterans to start or expand their small businesses over the past three-and-a-half years. The U.S. Small Business Administration recently announced that the program has been renewed for three more years.

“America’s veterans have the leadership skills and experience to become successful entrepreneurs and small business owners,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “The impact of this program over the last three-and-a-half years has meant thousands of veterans and their families have had the resources to pursue their dreams as entrepreneurs, and at the same time create jobs and drive economic growth at a critical time for our country. Renewing it means we can continue to fulfill our sacred commitment to the men and women who serve our country by giving them every opportunity for success.”

Patriot Express loans are offered by SBA’s network of participating lenders nationwide and feature one of SBA’s fastest turnaround times for loan approvals. Patriot Express loans are available for up to $500,000. Local SBA district offices can provide lists of Patriot Express lenders in their areas. Details on the initiative can be found at www.sba.gov/patriotexpress.

To learn more about additional opportunities for veterans available through the SBA, visit www.sba.gov/vets.

Posted by Matthew Pavelek at 12/13/2010 10:16 AM

Lockheed Martin Seeks VOBs for Moving Services

Lockeed Martin Logo NaVOBA Corporate Member Lockheed Martin has a requirement to add suppliers to its competition leading to corporate agreements for household goods transportation.

LMB0014 – Domestic Household Goods Transportation

Seeking small business suppliers with capabilities in NAICS code 484210 Used Household and Office Goods Moving for domestic household goods transportation. Send a summary of your company’s capabilities, along with business size and status, to Supplier.Communications@LMCO.com. Reference LMB0014 in email Subject.

Needed by Friday, December 10, 2010.

Posted by Matthew Pavelek at 12/09/2010 04:20 PM

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