Get To Know Two Local Organizations Supporting Veterans – and Business Owners in the Process

The Veterans Business Resource Center

 On June 7, 2004, the Veterans Business Resource Center was founded based on the mission of assisting military members, veterans, National Guard members and reservists and their immediate families with startup and expansion of small businesses in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and southern Illinois. Darcella Craven spoke with St. Louis Small Business Monthly on how her organization is supporting both veterans and entrepreneurship today.

Who are your clients?
Our clients include: transitioning military personnel who are considering small business as an employment option when they leave the service; current veterans who are interested in exploring self-employment perhaps after working in traditional employment or after they retire; National Guard and reservists who have a small business but are about to be deployed and need help securing their business to either continue in their absence with another employee at the helm or family member; and small-business owners who have a military background and are looking to expand and grow their business.

What services do you provide to veterans?
We have a five-phase consulting process that begins with assessment of the veteran’s business idea and readiness to start a business or his/her needs for an existing company. As the veteran moves through the process, he/she is able to check off when they are ready for the next step so they are building a business on a solid foundation. … The program is designed to help them with a better understanding of all the resources available to them and navigate those resources effectively and for the greatest impact. There are so many programs out there it can be overwhelming. Our team makes sure they are utilizing those services appropriately.

How can veterans begin the process of gaining help from your organization?
Visiting our website at www.vetbiz.com and request counseling; this will start the process to see if our agency is the best fit for their needs. Or they can attend one of our informational sessions online or our monthly gatherings at the office on 315 Lemay Ferry to find out more details. Calling 314-531-VETS (8387) or emailing info@vetbiz.com for details works as well.   

What is the overall goal of your organization?
We are an economic development agency that is dedicated to ensuring that military personnel, veterans and their families secure financial stability and add value to their surrounding communities. Helping them create a strong small business helps them to continue to provide for themselves, their families and create jobs to support the economy. Our clients many times hire other veterans, and we require them to be involved in the communities they grow their businesses in as a part of our program.
Either time, talent or treasure. It is about ensuring that they know that just because they have left the service does not mean that their military family has left them. They are just turning in one uniform for another. I am an Army veteran along with several of the staff. All of us but one has started his or her own small business, so we get it from both perspectives. That of a military person and that of a small-business owner. We want them to know that the unit is still in full effect. We are here to help them make a decision on their futures. We are here to help them grow and offer assistance. Not do it for them but bring them back into a team so they know they are not alone.”

Show-Me Heroes

Started by Governor Nixon in 2010, Show-Me Heroes is a cooperative effort between the Missouri National Guard and the Missouri Division of Workforce Development, which works to reconnect Veterans and returning National Guard and Reserve Service Members with meaningful employment within their communities. St. Louis Small Business Monthly spoke with Jonathan Barry, director of Show-Me Heroes. Read on to see how employers and Veterans can benefit from Show-Me Heroes according to Barry.

What is your mission today?
Our mission is to reconnect Veterans and returning National Guard and Reserve Service Members with meaningful employment within their communities throughout the state.  We are able to accomplish this mission by creating strong relationships with Missouri’s employers, coordinating efforts with Veterans Service Organizations and private and public agencies; and through close cooperation and integration with the Missouri National Guard, Department of Economic Development, and Division of Workforce Development. Today, more than 3,453 employers have taken the pledge and have hired over 5,510 veterans and service members.

Who are your clients?
Our clients are Veterans and Service Members looking for employment as well as Missouri employers looking for experienced and highly motivated employees. Individuals with military experience have many qualities valued in Missouri’s fast-paced, high-tech economy. Military Service Members have the leadership experience, teamwork mentality, and integrity employers demand. In addition to helping employers locate great employees, Show-Me Heroes also has an On-the-Job-Training (OJT) program. Show-Me Heroes OJT offers 50% reimbursement of wages paid during a defined training period when an employer hires a recently separated or recently returned Service Member.  Interested employers should go to http://showmeheroes.mo.gov/LVER.aspx to locate their closest local Veterans Employment Representative or email showmeheroes@ded.mo.gov.

What services do you provide to veterans?
By partnering with agencies throughout the Great State of Missouri, we are able to provide Veterans and Service Members with: a network of employers who recognize the benefits that military training and experience bring to the workforce; job search assistance and seminars; local Veterans employment representatives through the Missouri career centers and service member focused career fairs.
 
How can veterans begin the process of gaining help from your organization?
If you haven’t already, go to http://jobs.mo.gov – Missouri’s premier career portal – and establish an account. Be sure to make note on your account that you are a veteran or service member. If you would like individual assistance or would like to speak with a Veterans Employment Representative, go to http://showmeheroes.mo.gov/LVER.aspx to locate the LVER nearest you.

What is the overall goal of your organization?
Show-Me Heroes’ ultimate goal is to connect every job seeking Veteran and Service Member with a meaningful career! In addition, we want other employers to experience for themselves the value added to their companies by hiring these highly skilled workers.