FayettevilleState University’s (FSU) Veterans Business Outreach Center was honored with theNational Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence Award 2020. The Award wasmade during the 2020 National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and honored resource partners for their impact onlocal economic development, and support of small business creation and growthacross the nation. Additionally, all of SBA’s resource partners were recognizedfor providing resources to small businesses as they worked to sustain theiroperations and employees, as well as pivot and retool amid the global pandemic.
FSU and other award winners were recognized during virtual eventsheld on September 22-24, 2020. Each year, the SBA counsels, trains andadvises more than one million entrepreneurs and small business owners with thehelp of its resource partners. Together, SBA Resource Partners providebusiness consulting, access to capital, mentoring services, specialized training,and the expertise for each stage of a business’s lifecycle. Theiroutstanding efforts have supported the growth of small businesses, which inturn drives the nation’s economy. Entrepreneurs receiving resourcepartner assistance are more likely to start a business and successfully obtainthe financing necessary for business growth.
TheFSU Veterans Business Center is under the direction of Tamara Bryant. Thecenter provides veterans, active duty, and militaryspouses with the tools needed to establish and grow their businesses, generateprofits, and become essential contributors to the economic development of NorthCarolina. Last year, the VBOC at FSU counseled 734 clients, contributing to thecreation of 92 jobs. Thanks to a strong partnership with local lenders, thecenter helped clients access more than $1.2 million in startup and expansion capital.The center also conducted43 Boots to Business and Boots to Business Reboot classes, with 672participants across four installations. During 2019, the center also organized60 seminars and training sessions for 1,558 participants.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small BusinessAdministration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As theonly go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength ofthe federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small businessowners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand theirbusinesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services throughan extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and privateorganizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
About Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville State University is a constituent institutionof The University of North Carolina System and the second-oldest institution ofhigher education in the state, having been founded in 1867. FSU is ahistorically black university offering degrees at the baccalaureate, master’s,and doctoral levels. With more than 6,700 students, Fayetteville StateUniversity is among the most diverse institutions in the nation. To learn moreabout Fayetteville State University, visit www.uncfsu.edu.
