South Palm Beach SCORE Chapter

Veterans Business Grant and Training Program

WHAT

A business grant and training program designed for veterans of the post-Sept. 11 Iraq and Afghanistan wars and/or their family members. Program includes:

         Training curriculum with a minimum of 20 hours of learning, featuring counseling sessions, seminars and workshops.

         Counseling will be done electronically and or face-to-face and will include assistance in developing a business plan and in meeting requirements to receive funding.

         SCORE's veteran business experts will train participants in the basics of starting and successfully operating a business.

         Participants who successfully demonstrate both a need and a viable business plan may qualify for grants from the Pathway to Business Success Foundation Inc.

WHY

The average unemployment rate for veterans continues to climb higher than that of the general population. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that:

         In December 2010, the national unemployment rate stood at 9.4 percent. For post-Sept. 11 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, that number was 11.7 percent.

         The average annual unemployment rate for these veterans has nearly doubled since 2007, and is getting worse through 2011.

WHEN

SCORE is now seeking eligible participants for the program, which is scheduled to kick off January 2012.

WHO

The South Palm Beach SCORE, a chapter of the nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed nationwide. In 2009, SCORE assisted more than 350,000 clients. In 2010, the South Palm Beach Chapter served more than 6,000 small businesses in the South Florida area.

 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

         To be eligible, participants must be a veteran of the post-Sept. 11 Iraq and Afghanistan wars who served in theater with an honorable discharge, an active-duty service member eligible for the military's Transition Assistance Program or reservists or a National Guard member that served in theater and received an honorable discharge.

         The official conflict period for Afghanistan is from Oct. 7, 2001, through a date to be determined by the President. For Iraq, it's from March 19, 2003 also through a to-be-determined date. 

         Eligible veterans must currently be Florida residents.

         The program is available to veterans who served more than 90 days of active duty in theater during the conflicts.

         Spouses or widowed spouses of qualifying veterans are also eligible for the program.

 Download an application here

For further information contact:

Hal Finkelstein, Chairman

South Palm Beach SCORE ,Ste 201

Boca Raton, Fl. 33487

Phone: 561 981 5180

Email: hal.finkelstein@scorevolunteer.org

*The Pathway to Business Success Inc, foundation is a private foundation and not in any way connected with SCORE.