WATERVLIET, N.Y. (WRGB) — National Veterans Small Business Week begins Monday, in line with Veterans Day, highlighting information about resources available to veterans, service members and military spouse business owners.
Based in Watervliet, the McNulty Veterans Business Center offers business education and training, as well as business advice, mentoring, and networking and outreach events.
“It is a time when we recognize and honor our veterans and the brave men and women who have served our nation, but we also thank them for their sacrifice and for defending our democracy and our way of life,” said CEO Kathy Caruso. “It’s a national celebration through the U.S. Small Business Administration, and it’s really to highlight the impact that veteran businesses have on the U.S. and local economies.”
According to data from the US Department of Veterans AffairsIn 2018, there were more than 790,000 veterans across New York State.
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“We host the Veterans Business Outreach Center [VBOC] for New York and New Jersey,” Caruso said. “We are one of 31 VBOCs across the country now providing this training, so we also run a series of virtual trainings throughout the year on all topics, provide one-on-one coaching, and often partner with organizations. and veterans service organizations.”
One of those partnerships is with Albany Law School. On Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., veterans, current service members and their families are invited to free, individual, in-person legal consultations with a volunteer attorney. According to a statement, representatives from the organization will also be available with information on veterans benefits, housing assistance, entrepreneurship and legal expertise.
“It is a day-long event for free legal consultations and incredible resources for veterans to take advantage of, which they have earned by virtue of their military service,” Caruso said.
Also during National Veterans Small Business Week, the McNulty Veterans Business Center is holding an awards celebrationhonoring veterans like Frank DePalma.
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“We are extremely honored and proud to be recognized and proud to serve as ambassadors for the McNulty Veteran Business Center. “It’s been incredible and they’ve certainly pointed us in every possible direction and given us extremely personal advice,” he said. “They are very involved and very compassionate about their journeys and seeing that they are going to be successful. So, it’s been a wonderful opportunity, a tremendous resource that I’m grateful to have had available to me locally.”
DePalma, along with Riley Bourbonnais, will be recognized Thursday with the Veteran Business Owner Award in Troy. the business, Casa4gens LLCis a security consulting firm that works to help other businesses and communities.
Although National Veterans Small Business Week is only a one-week opportunity to highlight these entrepreneurs, Caruso said they should be considered year-round.
“Approximately 5% of small businesses are veteran-owned. “They employ 4 million people and generate almost $1 trillion in annual revenue,” he said. “So, we are part of that ecosystem that helps support those veterans as they move forward in their entrepreneurial journey.”