In a two-part package in this week's Miami Herald, Cindy Krischer Goodman chronicled the plight of returning military veterans navigating a very tough job market. Read it here and here and Cindy's blog post on the topic here.
No doubt, some vets are turning to entrepreneurship to make their own jobs. Resources are available.
This information is from local SCORE offices:
The business nonprofit SCORE, which helps small businesses with free mentoring, low-cost workshops and other resources, recently announced a business grant program exclusively for Iraq/Afghanistan veterans. Participants who successfully demonstrate both a need and a viable Business Plan can qualify for grants to start or grow small businesses in Florida. The program is funded thru the Pathway To Success Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 organization, and applicants are vetted by SCORE in Boca Raton, where they will be trained and mentored without charge. Interested veterans can download an application at www.scoresouthflorida.net or by calling the SCORE office (Mon-Thurs., 9-1) 561-981-5180.
SCORE also has a nationwide program Veterans Fast Launch that is focused on helping returning veteran transition into having their own business. The new program will include training scholarships, free software and services combined with SCORE's mentoring program in order to help accelerate the ability of veterans and their families to start and succeed as small business owners. You can get all the information at vetsfastlaunch.org
Broward SCORE, for instance, is running the workshop series Simple Steps for Starting Your Own Business at the Plantation Chamber of Commerce. One session starts March 24; the other June 9. Register at www.broward.score.org . Click on “Workshop Calendar” and choose your date. Walmart is paying the $100 admission for qualifying military personnel and their families. Attendees need to go to the www.vetsfastlaunch.org/coupom/signup site to get a coupon to present at the first workshop. The Simple Steps program also assigns a mentor to work with the participant as they go through the program.
SCORE Miami-Dade, with 93 volunteer counselors, has programs for veterans as well and all SCORE offices provide free one-on-one mentoring and low-cost workshops. Contact SCORE Miami-Dade here