Farmer Resources

SBA’s Boots to Business (B2B) program provides entrepreneurial education and training to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses. Participants learn the fundamentals of business ownership, including evaluating business ideas, understanding markets, developing a business plan, and identifying the resources needed to launch and grow a successful business.

SBA’s Boots to Business Reboot (B2BR) extends B2B to veterans of all eras in their communities. Includes National Guard and Reserve Members.

Boots to Business graduates can continue their entrepreneurial journey through Boots to Business.

Revenue Readiness, a six-week virtual training program designed to help entrepreneurs validate their business model, understand their customers, and prepare for long-term success.

SBA provides grant funding for specialized entrepreneurship training programs designed to help women veterans and services members start or grow their businesses, these programs are offered in-person and/or virtually at no cost to the veteran. Visit the links for full details:

• Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE)
• ONABEN Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Program
• STRIVE Program – Utah Veteran Business Resource Center (VBRC)

SBA provides grant funding for specialized entrepreneurship training programs designed to help veterans injured in the line of duty who are or want to be small business owners. These programs are often conducted in phases with both a virtual component and an in-person component. These programs are free of cost to the veteran including travel expenses. Visit the links for full details:

• Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) – University of Connecticut
• Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) – Syracuse University
• Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) – University of Missouri
• Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) – Texas A&M University
• Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) – Saint Joseph’s University
• Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) – UCLA
• Warrior Rising
• Veteran Entrepreneurial Training & Resource Network (VETRN)

Veteran-owned businesses seeking to compete in the federal marketplace may participate in the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP), a nationally recognized training program focused on government contracting readiness.

The SBA works with a network of resource partners to assist entrepreneurs with their business needs by offering free or low-cost mentoring, counseling, and training. Below is a list of partners available to veterans. 

Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC): The VBOC of New England provides information on small business ownership to service members and military spouses by delivering free business counseling and training workshops, supplying entrepreneurs with the tools and resources needed to run a business. 

SCORE: Get free, expert guidance to start, grow, or strengthen your small business. SCORE connects you with experienced mentors, practical resources, and business education built for every stage of your journey. You can visit and click “Find a Mentor”. 

Connecticut Small Business Development Center (SBDC): Connecticut Small Business Development Center’s trained and experienced full-time advisors work with a variety of small businesses in all industries and stages of development by providing no-cost advisory services. 

Women's Business Development Council (WBDC): The WBC program was founded to foster the growth of women-owned businesses by providing access to education, training, mentoring, business development and financing opportunities to women throughout the United States and its territories.

The SBA helps small businesses get funding by partnering with lenders to help increase small business access to leans. SBA backed loans include:

• 7(a) loans for working capital, equipment, and business acquisition
• 504 loans for major fixed assets such as real estate and equipment
• Microloans for smaller financing needs

Use Lender Match to get matched to potential lenders funding with competitive rates and fees.

SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) Program provides Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) access to valuable federal contracting opportunities.

Benefits of certification include:

• SDVOSBs may compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts across the federal government.
• Certified VOSBs may compete for sole-source and set-aside opportunities with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs through the VA’s Vets First Contracting Program.
• The federal government has a goal of awarding at least 5% of federal contracting dollars to SDVOSBs annually.

Before applying, businesses should ensure they meet SBA size standards and ownership and control requirements. Applicants can use the MySBA Certifications portal to determine eligibility, access preparation guides, and submit an application.

Additional VetCert assistance is available through SBA’s dedicated support team at certifications@sba.gov or 866-SBA-HELP (866-722-4357).

Veteran-owned small businesses can access federally owned personal property no longer in use through the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Federal Surplus Personal Property Donation Program. Businesses must coordinate with their State Agency for Surplus Property (SASP) and maintain VetCert eligibility to participate.

The SASP program in Connecticut is administered by the Department of Administrative Services:

Mae Kerwin, State and Federal Property Program Administrator
Crystal Redding, State and Federal Property Program Administrator
Email: DAS.State.Surplus@ct.gov
Phone: 860-713-5052

Here are some Connecticut specific programs for veteran-owned small businesses:

Connecticut Veteran-Owned Micro Business Certification allows eligible veteran-owned micro businesses to receive 15% pricing preferences when competing for certain State of Connecticut contracting opportunities.

Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund helps Connecticut small businesses may access flexible financing options designed to support business growth, create jobs, and increase economic opportunity.

CT Veteran Grown is a three-year program designed to give the state’s Farmer Veterans marketing assistance and resources to help them succeed. 

VA’s VR&E Self Employment Track helps disabled veterans launch their own businesses when traditional employment options worsen their service-connected conditions.

Contact Us: Connecticut_DO@sba.gov

Visit SBA.gov/CT for our calendar of free classes