Opportunity Information: Apply for SB OVVB 23 001
The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) - Expansion FY23 grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SB OVVB 23 001) is a discretionary funding program offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through a cooperative agreement. Its core goal is to expand and strengthen support services for the veteran entrepreneurship community by funding organizations that can deliver high-quality training, counseling, and hands-on business assistance. The program is designed to help veterans and military-connected individuals move from interest in entrepreneurship to building sustainable, growth-oriented small businesses, whether they are starting from scratch, scaling an existing company, or diversifying into new markets.
A central expectation of this opportunity is that awardees actively deliver two SBA entrepreneurship training programs that serve different points in the military-to-civilian transition. First, applicants must provide Boots to Business (B2B) training for transitioning service members and spouses, a program aimed at introducing entrepreneurship fundamentals and helping participants evaluate business ownership as a viable career path. Second, applicants must provide Reboot training for veterans and military spouses, which generally supports people who are either beginning the startup process or refining an early-stage business concept. Together, these programs reflect the SBA's intent to reach both those preparing to exit active service and those already in the veteran community who are ready to develop or relaunch a business plan.
Beyond structured training classes, the opportunity emphasizes ongoing, individualized assistance. Funded organizations are expected to provide counseling, business assessments, mentoring, and technical support that address real-world small business challenges. This includes financial and technical skill development, help navigating common startup and growth hurdles, and guidance for entrepreneurs who want to expand, professionalize operations, or diversify products and services. The eligible clients served under this work include veterans, active-duty service members, Reserve and National Guard members, military spouses, and in some cases family members, with services oriented toward both prospective entrepreneurs and current small business owners.
The program is open to a broad mix of applicant types, reflecting an intent to fund capable providers across nonprofit, government, academic, and private-sector settings. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education); and private sector firms. The funding is tied to CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) 59.044, and it falls under the funding activity category of Agriculture, Business, and Commerce, consistent with SBA's role in small business development.
In terms of scale, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $400,000 per award and anticipates making approximately 12 awards. The notice was created on October 6, 2022, with an original closing date of November 23, 2022. As a cooperative agreement, recipients should generally expect substantial involvement from the SBA compared to a traditional grant, meaning the agency may play an active role in coordinating program delivery expectations, performance oversight, or alignment with national program standards for the B2B and Reboot training components.
Overall, VBOC - Expansion FY23 is aimed at expanding a network of organizations that can provide practical, outcomes-oriented entrepreneurship services to the military-connected community. It prioritizes both classroom-style training and deeper one-on-one counseling and mentoring so participants can make informed decisions, build viable business plans, improve financial readiness, and increase the odds that their businesses can launch successfully and remain sustainable over time.Apply for SB OVVB 23 001
- The Small Business Administration in the agriculture, business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Veterans Business Outreach Center - Expansion FY23" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.044.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 06, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 23, 2022 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) - Expansion FY23
What is the VBOC - Expansion FY23 grant opportunity?
The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) - Expansion FY23 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SB OVVB 23 001) is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offered through a cooperative agreement. It funds organizations that can expand and strengthen entrepreneurship support services for veterans and other military-connected individuals through training, counseling, and hands-on business assistance.
What is the main goal of this program?
The core goal is to expand and strengthen support services for the veteran entrepreneurship community by supporting providers that deliver high-quality training, counseling, and practical assistance. The program is intended to help participants move from initial interest in entrepreneurship to building sustainable, growth-oriented small businesses, whether they are starting, scaling, or diversifying.
What types of services are expected from awardees?
Awardees are expected to provide both structured entrepreneurship training and ongoing individualized assistance. The opportunity emphasizes training classes (including specific SBA programs) and additional services such as counseling, business assessments, mentoring, and technical support that address real-world startup and growth challenges.
Which SBA training programs are awardees expected to deliver?
A central expectation is that awardees actively deliver two SBA entrepreneurship training programs: Boots to Business (B2B) and Reboot training. These serve different points in the military-to-civilian transition and are intended to reach both transitioning service members and those already in the veteran community.
What is Boots to Business (B2B) training, and who is it for?
Boots to Business (B2B) is designed for transitioning service members and spouses. It introduces entrepreneurship fundamentals and helps participants evaluate whether business ownership is a viable career path as they prepare to exit active service.
What is Reboot training, and who is it for?
Reboot training is intended for veterans and military spouses. It generally supports people who are beginning the startup process or refining an early-stage business concept, including those who may be relaunching or strengthening a plan.
Does the program focus only on classroom-style training?
No. While structured training is a central component, the opportunity places strong emphasis on individualized, ongoing support such as counseling, mentoring, assessments, and technical assistance to help clients work through specific business challenges.
What kinds of business support activities are included beyond training?
Beyond training classes, expected services include counseling, business assessments, mentoring, and technical support. This can include financial and technical skill development, help navigating common startup and growth hurdles, and guidance for entrepreneurs looking to expand, professionalize operations, or diversify products and services.
Who are the eligible clients or intended beneficiaries of these services?
The eligible clients described include veterans, active-duty service members, Reserve and National Guard members, military spouses, and in some cases family members. Services are oriented to both prospective entrepreneurs and current small business owners.
Is the program meant for people who are just starting, or also for existing businesses?
It is intended for both. The opportunity is designed to help individuals starting from scratch as well as entrepreneurs who want to scale an existing company or diversify into new markets. It supports both prospective entrepreneurs and current small business owners.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
The opportunity is open to a broad mix of applicant types, including state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education); and private sector firms.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education).
Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments, as well as federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
Are private sector firms eligible to apply?
Yes. Private sector firms are listed as eligible applicants.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA (now commonly referred to as the Assistance Listing) 59.044.
What funding activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The funding activity category is Agriculture, Business, and Commerce, consistent with the SBA's role in small business development.
How much funding is available per award?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $400,000 per award.
How many awards does the SBA expect to make?
The SBA anticipated making approximately 12 awards under this opportunity.
What type of funding instrument is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity is offered through a cooperative agreement rather than a traditional grant.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
As a cooperative agreement, recipients should generally expect substantial involvement from the SBA compared to a traditional grant. The SBA may play an active role in coordinating program delivery expectations, performance oversight, or alignment with national program standards for the Boots to Business (B2B) and Reboot components.
When was the funding opportunity created?
The notice was created on October 6, 2022.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date listed for the opportunity was November 23, 2022.
What outcomes does the program aim to support for participants?
The program aims to help participants make informed decisions about entrepreneurship, build viable business plans, improve financial readiness, and increase the odds that businesses can launch successfully and remain sustainable over time.
How does the opportunity address different stages of the military-to-civilian transition?
It does so by requiring delivery of two distinct training programs: Boots to Business (B2B) for transitioning service members and spouses, and Reboot training for veterans and military spouses who are beginning or refining a business concept. Together, these programs align support to different stages and needs within the military-connected community.
What is the overall purpose of the VBOC - Expansion FY23 initiative?
Overall, it is aimed at expanding a network of organizations that provide practical, outcomes-oriented entrepreneurship services to military-connected individuals, prioritizing both classroom training and one-on-one counseling and mentoring.
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