NEW YORK – The U.S. Small Business Administration is launching its first online Veteran Entrepreneurial Training and Resource Network (VETRN) Streetwise MBA program to New Jersey veteran small business owners and their immediate families beginning in August 2020.

“Thanks to the funding of $100,000 from President Donald Trump’s donated salary, this will be the second phase of the Veteran Owned Small Business Growth Training Pilot Program, following the successful completion of the first segment that was held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in March 2020,” said SBA’s Atlantic Regional Administrator Steve Bulger, who oversees the agency’s programs and services in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The 13-week award-winning VETRN Streetwise MBA program, powered by Interise, was created exclusively for veterans to provide them with the skills, resources, mentoring, and networking necessary to grow their own small business. The program is free and now open to veterans and family members of established small businesses in all New England States, New York, and New Jersey. To date, 57 VETRN participants have graduated from the program.

“The SBA is dedicated to finding new and innovative ways to provide virtual support for our veteran-owned small businesses during these trying and unprecedented times,” added Bulger. “In addition to SBA’s Boots to Business, Boots to Business Reboot, Veterans Business Outreach Centers programs and other SBA business resources, this just gives our veteran community in New Jersey and New York another option and an effective means to grow their businesses.”

SBA New Jersey District Director Al Titone said, the online program content is designed to help veteran entrepreneurs build operational capacity, increase revenues, manage cash flow, and create sustainable jobs. Addressing the Covid-19 economic impact, VETRN has added classes on crisis management, and training on how to work with lending institutions and other stakeholders when facing financial difficulties.

“We are excited to open the application process to veterans and their family members here in New Jersey. It is a wonderful opportunity for veterans and their family members to work on their growth strategies and to take their businesses to another level,” he added.

The VETRN program is open to veteran-owned businesses (or be a veteran immediate family member), located in New Jersey, New York, or New England. To qualify for the program, a veteran business owner or family member’s business must have been operational at least one year and have generated at least $75,000 in annual revenues. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

To learn more about the VETRN Streetwise MBA online program, or see testimonials and videos, visit https://vetrn.org. Applications may be completed online at https://vetrn.org/apply/. Additional information on the program may also be obtained by sending an email to either info@vetrn.org or lelandg@vetrn.org.

For more information about other SBA programs and resources for veterans, visit www.sba.gov/veterans.

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