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VWEC Joins the Veteran Loan Fund - Veteran & Military Spouse Business Accelerator
VWEC joins the Veteran Loan Fund launch of a National Accelerator to boost Veteran and Military Spouse businesses.
Major initiative supported by Truist Foundation
The Veteran Loan Fund (VLF), a national effort of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), advancing economic opportunity for military-connected entrepreneurs, today announced the launch of the Veteran & Military Spouse Business Accelerator, created to expand access to capital, training, and business support for Veteran and Military Spouse entrepreneurs across the country. The initiative is supported by Truist Foundation, through a grant to PeopleFund, Texas’ member of VLF, to establish and scale the Accelerator nationally through VLF.
Register at https://www.veteranloanfund.com/vmsba/
Since launching in 2021, VLF has raised approximately $30 million, which members have leveraged locally to deploy more than $110 million in small business loans to over 1,500 Veteran and Military Spouse entrepreneurs, supporting approximately 8,000 jobs nationwide.
The Veteran and Military Spouse Business Accelerator uses a coordinated model that delivers business education and mentorship, capital readiness and financial training, marketing and operational support, access to affordable loan capital, and grants.
The Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC) CEO VR Small is once again excited to join forces with PeopleFund and the VLF to lead a portion of the curriculum and content delivery.
“Through this program, we are creating stronger, more accessible pathways for Veteran and Military Spouse entrepreneurs to build, grow, and sustain successful businesses.” VR Small
WHAT YOU GAIN:
Participants will complete a free, 8-week program combining weekly instruction, structured assignments, one-on-one business coaching, and free access to LivePlan a business planning and financial forecasting platform used to build plans, model projections, and track performance.
Those who successfully complete all program requirements will receive:
Ongoing technical assistance for up to three years,
Access to up to $350,000 in loan capital,
A grant ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, and
Complimentary access to the Business Beyond Battlefield Conference at the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas in October 2026.
The program is delivered in collaboration with member CDFIs and veteran-serving organizations, with the University of Texas at Arlington Veterans Business Outreach Center (UTAVBOC) and the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC) leading the curriculum and content delivery.
The launch of the Accelerator kicks off a new phase of growth for the Veteran Loan Fund, building on strong national momentum and a proven model that combines capital with hands-on business support.
Through this initiative, VLF aims to deploy an additional $15 million in loans and up to $1.5 million in grants, supporting approximately 300 Veteran and Military Spouse entrepreneurs and helping create or retain 1,500 jobs within the next year.
About Veteran Loan Fund:
The Veteran Loan Fund is a national effort of a growing number of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and specialized technical assistance partners dedicated to helping Veterans and Military Spouses start and grow small businesses. Member CDFIs currently include Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (GA), Ascendus (NY), Appalachian Community Capital (VA), BBIF (FL), Business Impact Northwest (WA), Colorado Enterprise Fund (CO), DreamSpring (NM), Economic and Community Development Institute (OH), Justine Petersen (MO), Pathway Lending (TN), PeopleFund (TX), Pursuit (NJ), Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WI) and members of African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs. Learn more at www.veteranloanfund.com.
VWEC NAVIGATING THE NATION: 2026 SMALL BUSINESS EXPO TOUR
COME WITH US TO SAN FRANCISCO!
Our Second Stop on our 2026 Tour to Connect, Collaborate & Celebrate women entrepreneurs associated with the military across the nation!
Now in our seventh year collaborating with the Small Business Expo, VWEC continues to engage Veteran Women Entrepreneurs, gaining invaluable insights from New York City, to Pasadena, Houston, Atlanta, DC, Chicago, Columbus; and of course, here in Dallas—connecting with over 2,500+ entrepreneurs.
This year, we’re back, continuing with our engaging booth, standing-room-only live workshop, and now we’ll be presenting a webinar for the Small Business University!
Volunteer with VWEC to spotlight your business and compete for $100 in grant funding.
https://bit.ly/VWEC2026NavigatingTheNation_SmallBusinessExpoTour
You really DON’T want to miss this opportunity!
Join VWEC at one of America’s BIGGEST business-to-business trade shows, conferences & networking events of the year.
Boston * May 27th * The Westin Boston Seaport District
San Francisco * June 25th * South San Francisco Conference Center
Las Vegas * September 10th * Plaza Hotel & Casino Convention Center
Phoenix * November 18th * Phoenix Convention Center, South Building
Whether you're launching a startup or scaling a multi-million-dollar enterprise, sustained success in today’s fast-evolving market requires a strategic growth plan. Join us for Strategic Growth: Six Strategies to Successfully Scale Your Business, where you'll discover proven methods to drive measurable value—not just to your bottom line, but to your customers, employees, and stakeholders.
This is your opportunity to position yourself as an industry leader and achieve long-term, sustainable growth.
As a national initiative, VWEC is dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs associated with the military—including veterans, active duty, reservists, and military spouses—empowering them to scale their businesses and achieve lasting success.
VWEC NAVIGATING THE NATION: 2026 SMALL BUSINESS EXPO TOUR
JOIN IN LAS VEGAS!
It’s our third stop on our 2026 Tour to Connect, Collaborate & Celebrate women entrepreneurs associated with the military across the nation!
Now in our seventh year collaborating with the Small Business Expo, VWEC continues to engage Veteran Women Entrepreneurs, gaining invaluable insights from New York City, to Pasadena, Houston, Atlanta, DC, Chicago, Columbus; and of course, here in Dallas—connecting with over 2,500+ entrepreneurs.
This year, we’re back, continuing with our engaging booth, standing-room-only live workshop, and now we’ll be presenting a webinar for the Small Business University!
Volunteer with VWEC to spotlight your business and compete for $100 in grant funding.
https://bit.ly/VWEC2026NavigatingTheNation_SmallBusinessExpoTour
You really DON’T want to miss this opportunity!
Join VWEC at one of America’s BIGGEST business-to-business trade shows, conferences & networking events of the year.
Boston * May 27th * The Westin Boston Seaport District
San Francisco * June 25th * South San Francisco Conference Center
Las Vegas * September 10th * Plaza Hotel & Casino Convention Center
Phoenix * November 18th * Phoenix Convention Center, South Building
Whether you're launching a startup or scaling a multi-million-dollar enterprise, sustained success in today’s fast-evolving market requires a strategic growth plan. Join us for Strategic Growth: Six Strategies to Successfully Scale Your Business, where you'll discover proven methods to drive measurable value—not just to your bottom line, but to your customers, employees, and stakeholders.
This is your opportunity to position yourself as an industry leader and achieve long-term, sustainable growth.
As a national initiative, VWEC is dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs associated with the military—including veterans, active duty, reservists, and military spouses—empowering them to scale their businesses and achieve lasting success.
VWEC NAVIGATING THE NATION: 2026 SMALL BUSINESS EXPO TOUR
THIS IS IT OUR LAST STOP: PHOENIX!
We’re closing out our 2026 Tour to Connect, Collaborate & Celebrate women entrepreneurs associated with the military across the nation!
Now in our seventh year collaborating with the Small Business Expo, VWEC continues to engage Veteran Women Entrepreneurs, gaining invaluable insights from New York City, to Pasadena, Houston, Atlanta, DC, Chicago, Columbus; and of course, here in Dallas—connecting with over 2,500+ entrepreneurs.
This year, we’re back, continuing with our engaging booth, standing-room-only live workshop, and now we’ll be presenting a webinar for the Small Business University!
Volunteer with VWEC to spotlight your business and compete for $100 in grant funding.
https://bit.ly/VWEC2026NavigatingTheNation_SmallBusinessExpoTour
You really DON’T want to miss this opportunity!
Join VWEC at one of America’s BIGGEST business-to-business trade shows, conferences & networking events of the year.
Boston * May 27th * The Westin Boston Seaport District
San Francisco * June 25th * South San Francisco Conference Center
Las Vegas * September 10th * Plaza Hotel & Casino Convention Center
Phoenix * November 18th * Phoenix Convention Center, South Building
Whether you're launching a startup or scaling a multi-million-dollar enterprise, sustained success in today’s fast-evolving market requires a strategic growth plan. Join us for Strategic Growth: Six Strategies to Successfully Scale Your Business, where you'll discover proven methods to drive measurable value—not just to your bottom line, but to your customers, employees, and stakeholders.
This is your opportunity to position yourself as an industry leader and achieve long-term, sustainable growth.
As a national initiative, VWEC is dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs associated with the military—including veterans, active duty, reservists, and military spouses—empowering them to scale their businesses and achieve lasting success.
ANNOUNCING VWEC: NAVIGATING THE NATION: 2026 SMALL BUSINESS EXPO TOUR
IT’S HERE—VWEC Navigating the Nation: 2026 Small Business Expo Tour
Join VWEC as we continue to CONNECT, COLLABORATE & CELEBRATE entrepreneurial women associated with the military from across the nation!
Now in our seventh year collaborating with the Small Business Expo, VWEC continues to engage Veteran Women Entrepreneurs locally and nationally—connecting with over 2,500+ entrepreneurs.
This year, we’re raising the bar continuing our Bold Business Booth, standing-room-only live Strategic Growth workshop, and a NEW FREE online webinar designed to reach even more female veteran entrepreneurs nationwide.
Join us at one of America’s BIGGEST business-to-business trade shows, conferences, and networking events of the year. The Small Business Expo is your gateway to resources, mentorship, and meaningful connections that help move your business forward.
Volunteer with VWEC to spotlight your business and compete for $100 in grant funding. You really DON’T want to miss this opportunity, to be seen, engage other entrepreneurs to develop new B2C & B2B relationships!
CONNECT. COLLABORATE. CELEBRATE. 🎉
For nine years, the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC) has witnessed—and contributed to—the powerful evolution of entrepreneurship in communities across the country.
As a national initiative, VWEC is committed to empowering entrepreneurial women associated with the military—including veterans, active duty, reservists, and military spouses—helping them scale their businesses and build lasting economic impact.
Unlock Your Business’s Full Potential with VWEC
VWEC’s specialized programs support both emerging and established businesses, equipping entrepreneurs with the strategic frameworks needed to grow, scale, and compete in today’s evolving marketplace.
Through our work, we’ve identified a series of critical growth gap that prevents many entrepreneurs from fully maximizing their opportunities, including:
Leveraging mergers & acquisitions to accelerate expansion
Entering international trade and reaching global markets
Understanding their true business valuation for smarter strategic decisions
Developing growth strategies aligned with their personal and professional vision
VWEC bridges this gap by providing entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to build stronger, scalable, sustainable businesses that last!
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and build camaraderie with your sisters-in-arms at one of our upcoming stops:
📍 Boston, MA | May 27
The Westin Boston Seaport District – Booth #: 316
📍 San Francisco, CA | June 25
Ohio Expo Center – Booth #: 425
📍 Las Vegas, NV | September 10
Plaza Hotel & Casino Convention Ctr. – Booth #: 224
📍 Phoenix, AZ | November 18
Phoenix Convention Center – Booth #: 226
We are strengthening our national network of women entrepreneurs associated with the military—from startups to multimillion-dollar enterprises.
Ready to design your Strategic Growth Plan?
Whether you're launching a startup or scaling a multi-million-dollar enterprise, sustained success in today’s fast-moving marketplace requires a strategic growth plan.
Join us for Strategic Growth: Six Strategies to Scaling Successfully, where you’ll discover proven methods to create measurable value—not just for your bottom line, but for your customers, employees, and stakeholders.
This is your opportunity to position yourself as an industry leader while building sustainable, long-term growth.
At VWEC, our vision is clear:
To empower women entrepreneurs—especially women associated with the military—to build scalable, innovative businesses that dominate their industries, strengthen communities, and set a global standard for entrepreneurial excellence.
#BusinessSuccess #StrategicGrowth #VeteranEntrepreneurs and