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Florida Association of Veteran-Owned Businesses

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  • 06/09/2023 1:52 PM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    The Ovideo Winter Springs Regional Chamber is hosting Hometown Hill Day: A Central Florida Leadership Forum. This is your chance to meet with our federal representatives, state representatives and elected officials for Seminole County. As the political climate continues to evolve, it's more important than ever to stay informed and engage in meaningful discussions. From analyzing the current state of affairs to discussing the latest trends and predictions, this event promises to be an insightful and thought-provoking experience.

    We are excited to host panel discussions featuring some of the most prominent political commentators and experts in the field. Our federal, state and local officials will be available to discuss and promote awareness about different political issues affecting our community. With 5 different sessions, this is your chance to advocate for your business and meet with the elected officials who can help make change happen. All confirmed speakers are listed below to include our own Representative David Smith.


    • Cory Mills - U.S. State Representative
    • Jason Brodeur - Florida State Senator District 10
    • Rachel Plakon - Florida State Representative District 36
    • Susan Plasencia - Florida State Representative District 37
    • David Smith - Florida State Representative District 38
    • Doug Bankson - Florida State Representative District 39
    • Bob Dallari - Seminole County Commissioner District 1
    • Lee Constantine - Seminole County Commissioner District 3
    • Amy Lockhart - Seminole County Commissioner District 4
    • David Johnson - Seminole County Property Appraiser
    • Grant Maloy - Seminole County Clerk of the Courts
    • Sheriff Dennis Lemma - Seminole County Sheriff
    • Chris Anderson - Seminole County Supervisor of Elections
    • J.R. Kroll - Seminole County Tax Collector
    • Megan Sladek - Mayor of Oviedo
    • Kevin McCann - Mayor of Winter Springs


  • 06/02/2023 8:55 AM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    FAVOB Members are invited to attend

    Whether you're starting, growing or managing a business, taking a little time to hear about new trends and emerging strategies can have a big impact. Chase for Business is dedicated to helping you gain the in-depth knowledge your business needs to take the next step.

    We invite you to join us for an upcoming Business Insights Seminar event, featuring networking opportunities, complimentary breakfast and a presentation by our keynote speaker.

    Jay Baer

    The Time to Win:
    Grow Your Business by Exceeding
    Customers’ Need for Speed

    featuring Jay Baer

    • Find out why speed is the most important element of the customer experience and how consumers feel when businesses respond faster or slower than they expected
    • Discover the connection between responsiveness and revenue
    • Get specific plans of action to determine the optimal response time in any customer interaction

    Hyatt Regency Orlando
    9801 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819
    Tuesday, June 13, 2023 | 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

    Register here


  • 04/07/2023 6:22 AM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    JR Smith, VP of The Veteran’s Ranch recently announced their newest event, The Diamonds and Boots Gala. This exciting event will entail a full dining experience with full cash bar and a live DJ for dancing. 2 VIP speakers have been confirmed.

    The Veteran’s Ranch is a nonprofit that raises money for the purchase and creation of a large equine therapy ranch for veterans and PTSD survivors to heal. JR Smith, the son of a Vietnam Navy Veteran and JR’s wife Pam Smith founded The Veterans Ranch to honor America’s veterans.

    Overall, equine therapy can be a valuable tool for veterans who are struggling with mental health issues, providing a unique and effective approach to treatment that can help them regain a sense of emotional well-being and improve their quality of life.

    The event will be on May 12, 2023 from 5:30–10pm

    Find out more about the Diamonds and Boots Gala here


  • 02/08/2023 11:13 AM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    Building on a successful program that has helped more than 500 veterans open their own businesses in Florida, three more partners have joined the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program.

    Beachworx, LLC, SWFL Inc., and the University of North Florida join our growing roster of partners providing veterans with a variety of entrepreneur resources at no cost, including startup and growth cohorts, exclusive workshop admission, veteran networking events, and more.

    They join Action Zone Inc., Florida Association of Veteran-Owned Businesses, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, and Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative in partnering with Veterans Florida to connect veterans and separating servicemembers with support toward rewarding full-time employment.

    “The Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program served the most veterans in its six-year history last year. Adding to our statewide network of entrepreneurship partners builds on that success to meet veterans anywhere at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey,” said Veterans Florida Executive Director Joe Marino. “As the state’s largest creator of veteran-owned businesses, Veterans Florida continues to add partners and equip veteran entrepreneurs with the powerful tools and resources that make Florida the preeminent place for veterans to start and grow their businesses.”

    “Thanks to the support of Veterans Florida, we are able to provide quality and consistent business training to the Central Florida veteran community,” said Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative Co-Founder Rafael Caamano. Through this partnership, we assisted and trained over 200 of our fellow veterans this past year. Such measures positively impacts the veteran community while supplementing economic development efforts that stimulate the generation or stability of tax revenues for the state and region, a win-win for everyone."

    Other partners include:

    Action Zone, Inc. (Tampa, South Florida) – Startup & Growth Cohorts, Virtual Startup Cohorts, Workshops, Networking Events

    Beachworx, LLC (Destin) - Workshops and Networking Events

    Florida Association of Veteran-Owned Businesses - Jacksonville, Orlando, Panhandle, Space Coast, and Tampa Chapters – Networking Events

    Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton) – Startup & Growth Cohorts, Workshops, Networking Events, Coworking Spaces

    Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers) – Startup & Growth Cohorts, Workshops, Networking Events

    SWFL Inc. (Fort Myers) - Workshops

    University of North Florida (Jacksonville) - Startup Cohort, Workshops, Networking Events

    Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative (Orlando, North Florida) – Startup & Growth Cohorts, Workshops, Networking Events

    The Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program has served 2,372 veterans who have opened 504 businesses, hired 744 employees, and generated more than $124 million in revenue. Participants have received national recognition and numerous awards for their accomplishments.

    Veterans and partners interested in the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program can visit veteransflorida.org/entrepreneurship or contact VETS Program Manager Amy Dudley at dudley@veteransflorida.org.

    About Veterans Florida

    Veterans Florida is a non-profit created by the State of Florida to help military veterans and their families transition to civilian life and to promote Florida’s status as the nation’s most veteran-friendly state. Veterans Florida is also the state’s designated DOD SkillBridge assistance organization. Visit veteransflorida.org for more information and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for updates on veteran opportunities in Florida.

    Facebook

    LinkedIn

    Twitter

    Instagram

    YouTube

    Copyright © 2023 Veterans Florida, All rights reserved.


  • 01/20/2023 12:40 PM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    NASA Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP)
    Virtual Networking Event

    Thursday, January 26

    1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET

    • As NASA continues to innovate in the space exploration, scientific, and research & development industries, small businesses will be critical to its missions. Each entity plays a unique role in cultivating lifelong success.

      Join the NASA Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) for a networking event – Research and Develop Your Small Business Opportunities at NASA. This event will host four networking rooms.

      Networking Room #1 - NASA OSBP and Center Small Business Specialists

      Networking Room #2 - NASA Office of Procurement

      Networking Room #3 – NASA Offices:

             Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Small Business Innovation Research & Small Business Technology Transfer Program (SBIR/STTR)
             NASA Partnership Office
             NASA Office of STEM Engagement

    Networking Room #4 – Agency Prime Contractors

    Click here to register for Research and Develop Your Small Business Opportunities at NASA.

    Log-in information and networking details will be provided after registration.  E-mail reminders will be sent the day before and the day of the event.

    Questions about this event?  Contact NASA OSBP at smallbusiness@nasa.gov or 202-358-2088


  • 01/20/2023 12:37 PM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    Kennedy Space Center Virtual Outreach

    Tuesday, February 7

    10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET

    SBA Updates on the 8(a) and SDB Programs 

    The U.S. Small Business Administration will share recent updates to the 8(a) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) programs. 

    Click here to register.  (Duplicate registrations will be deleted.)

    Questions about this event?  Contact NASA OSBP-KSC at ksc-smallbusiness@mail.nasa.gov   

    Log-in information will be provided after registration, within the Eventbrite confirmation.  We look forward to your participation in our event! 


  • 01/18/2023 7:10 AM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    The SBA Veteran Small Business Certification program started to receive applications on January 9th at the following address:  veterans.certify.sba.gov

    Certification with SBA allows service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) to compete for federal sole-source and set-aside contracts across the federal government. Certified veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) have additional opportunities to pursue sole-source and set-aside contracts at the Veterans Administration (VA) under the VA’s Vets First program.

    SBA’s new Veteran Small Business Certification program implements changes from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA 2021) which transferred the certification function from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to SBA as of January 1, 2023. The transfer provides veterans with a central support point for their small business certification needs.

    The final rule, which provides program and governance guidance, was published in the Federal Register on November 29, 2022.

    Benefits of SBA certification

    o    Certification allows SDVOSB firms the opportunity to compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts across the federal government. Certified VOSBs may also compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts from the VA.

    o    Self-certified firms seeking these restricted-competition opportunities must apply to SBA for certification by December 31, 2023.

    Eligibility requirements

    To apply for certification with SBA as a VOSB or SDVOSB, a firm must meet the following requirements:

    o    Be considered a small business, as defined by the size standard corresponding to any NAICS code listed in the business’s SAM profile.

    o    Have no less than 51% of the business owned and controlled by one or more veterans.

    o    For certification as a SDVOSB, have no less than 51% of the business owned and controlled by one or more veterans rated as service-disabled by the VA. 

    o    For those veterans who are permanently and totally disabled and unable to manage the daily business operations of their business, their business may still qualify if their spouse or appointed, permanent caregiver is assisting in that management.

    For a full list of eligibility requirements, see the final rule published in the Federal Register.

    Certification transfer from the VA and one-year extension

    o    Firms verified by the VA Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) as of January 1, 2023, are automatically granted certification by SBA for the remainder of the firm’s eligibility period.

    o    SBA intends to grant a one-time, one-year extension of certification to current VOSBs and SDVOSBs verified by the VA as of the transfer date on January 1, 2023. This additional year will be added to the existing eligibility period of a current participant.

    o    New applicants certified by SBA after January 1, 2023, will receive the standard three-year certification period.

    Grace period for self-certified firms

    o    The NDAA 2021 grants a one-year grace period for self-certified SDVOSBs until January 1, 2024.  During the grace period, self-certified businesses have one year to file an application for SDVOSB certification and may continue to rely on their self-certification to compete for non-VA SDVOSB set-aside contracts.

    o    Self-certified SDVOSBs that apply before January 1, 2024, will maintain their eligibility through the expiration of the grace period until SBA issues a final eligibility decision.

    o    VOSBs and SDVOSBs seeking sole-source and set-aside opportunities with the VA must be certified – there is no grace period.

    How to apply for certification

    To establish an SBA account and apply for certification, visit the Veteran Small Business Certification portal.

    Through the application portal, you will be able to:

    o    Access checklists and pre-application guides

    o    Check your firm’s eligibility

    o    Request information

    o    Create an account, login and proceed with an application

    o    Search for a certified VOSB or SDVOSB

    To help prepare for your application and gather the correct documents, use this SBA Veteran Small Business Certification fact sheet.

    For more details about the transfer and SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification, see our Frequently Asked Questions.

    For questions about the transfer and SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification, please email vetcert@sba.gov or call the dedicated toll-free call center at 800-862-8088.


  • 12/07/2022 10:46 AM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    First Look & Live Demo: SBA Veteran Small Business Certification Program

    SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman has updates to SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification Program during a December 6 webinar.

    By SBA Office of Veterans Business Development

    Date and time

    Tue, Dec 6, 2022, 4:00 PM EST

    Location

    Online

    About this event

    • Duration = 1 hour

    Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman will share important updates about the SBA's new Veteran Small Business Certification Program and reveal the SBA's certification application portal in a live demonstration. The demonstration will be followed by a Q&A period.

    Get your registration done here: First Look & Live Demo: SBA Veteran Small Business Certification Program Tickets, Tue, Dec 6, 2022 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite


  • 11/30/2022 3:22 PM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    All,

    Staff Sergeant Brent Maney’s, combat AF Pararescue Veteran was injured in a parachute accident.  His story is compelling.  

    Montel William's Military Makeover is assisting the family with a full house renovation in Melbourne, FL December 1-10.  

    They are in need of volunteers to help.  Carpenters, electricians, plumbing, drywall and general labor and clean up.  This is the schedule to volunteer. 

    Please consider volunteering and share this information with your social network and let's lend a hand to a hero's family in need.  


  • 11/21/2022 12:59 PM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    On Veterans Day 2022, the National Park Service will unveil a lifetime pass providing free entrance to national parks for Veterans and their families. The Interagency Military Lifetime Pass waives entrance fees for the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and standard amenity recreation fees for the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites for current military service members and their dependents, Veterans and Gold Star Families.

    Veterans and their families have free access to approximately 2,000 public locations spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, which host activities to fit any lifestyle—from serene to high octane, including hiking, fishing, paddling, biking, hunting, stargazing, camping, and much more.

    The Military Pass has been expanded to include a pass that does not expire for Veterans and Gold Star Family members. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2022 authorized a free lifetime pass to national parks and other federal recreational lands for eligible Veterans and Gold Star Families. In recent years, they were able to receive annual passes.

    Are you eligible?

    For purposes of this program, a Veteran is identified as an individual who has served in the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserve, and is able to present one of the following forms of valid (unexpired) identification:

    Gold Star Families are next of kin of a member of the United States Armed Forces who lost his or her life in a “qualifying situation,” such as a war, an international terrorist attack, or a military operation outside of the United States while serving with the United States Armed Forces.

    The America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (Interagency Pass) Program

    The Interagency Pass Program includes a free annual pass for active-duty members of the U.S. Military and their dependents. Current Military service members must show a valid (unexpired) Department of Defense ID. Dependents of current service members must show a valid (unexpired) DD Form 1173 AD or DEC.

    Other free or discounted passes, including some lifetime passes, are available for persons with permanent disabilities, fourth grade students, volunteers and senior citizens age 62 years or older.

    How to get your Interagency Pass

    Interagency Passes can be obtained in person while visiting a participating site. Visit Places to Get Interagency Passes for a searchable list and be sure to contact the site before you go, to make sure they are open and have passes in stock. In addition, Military passes, as well as those for seniors and persons with permanent disabilities, are available online through the USGS Online Store with an additional processing fee. Existing passes remain valid. You do not need to obtain a new pass if you already have a Lifetime Senior or Access Pass.

    For more information about eligibility and passes, visit Free Entrance to National Parks for Veterans and Gold Star Families (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).

    The participating agencies also offer several fee-free days for everyone throughout the year to mark days of celebration and commemoration. Examples of fee-free days include the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., National Public Lands Day, Veterans Day and the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act.

    Fee-free days and fee policies vary among the agencies, so it’s best to check the agency website or contact the site you plan to visit in advance of your trip.

    APPLY FOR A VETERAN ID CARD

    APPLY FOR A VETERAN HEALTH IDENTIFICATION CARD (VHIC)


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Creating opportunities for Veteran Business Owners to THRIVE.

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Physical Address: 835 Bennett Rd. 
Orlando, FL 32803

Mailing Address: PO Box 540447 
Orlando, FL 32854-0447

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