IVMF as Main Hub to Support 11 Partners With SBA’s $5 Million Grant

At a press conference earlier this week, the US Small Business Administration announced that Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) has been named as one of only eight Tier 1 grantees, selected as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s $100 million Community Navigator Pilot Program. As Tier 1 partner, the IVMF has been awarded a $5 million grant to participate in this novel program.

The Community Navigator Pilot Program, an initiative of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 initiative, is designed to deploy trusted community partners within underserved communities across the U.S., to coordinate the economic recovery efforts of specific communities including women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

The Community Navigator Pilot Program takes a “hub and spoke” approach, featuring a lead “hub” at the center of a network of “spoke” organizations that deploy trusted community advocates to support small businesses hit hard by the pandemic.  Of the eight Community Navigator hubs funded, IVMF is the only hub responsible for coordinating community-based, economic recovery for veteran-owned small businesses.

The $5 million grant over a two-year period will allow the IVMF to support veteran and military spouse businesses with entrepreneurship training, small business technical assistance, loan preparation, capital readiness, corporate and federal contracting, and networking.

The following organizations are the “spokes” working with the IVMF:

  • Texas A&M
    • Texas A&M opened its doors in 1876 as the state’s first public institution of higher learning. Today, they stand as a research-intensive flagship university dedicated to sending Aggie leaders out into the world prepared to take on the challenges of tomorrow.
  • Florida State University
    • Established on Florida State’s campus on November 11, 2011, the Student Veterans Center (SVC) acts as the hub for veteran support and success initiatives. Its establishment was aided by the work of student veterans on campus at the time – one of which was Jared Lyon who is currently serving as the CEO of Student Veterans of America in Washington D.C. – and the university president at the time, Eric J. Barron. Colonel Billy Francis took on the role of director of the SVC, transitioning from his position leading Florida State’s Air Force ROTC program.
  • St. Josephs University
    • Saint Joseph’s University understands and supports your service to our country. As a veteran-friendly university, we’ve been providing resources for men and women who serve our country for over 100 years. We’ve been designated as a 2021–2022 Military Friendly® School, and our online Master’s in Education programs have been recognized in U.S. News’ online education rankings as among the nation’s best for veterans in 2021.
  • Dog Tag Bakery
    • Named after the identification tag worn by all members of all branches of the military, Dog Tag equips veterans, military spouses, and caregivers with the tools to rediscover their purpose after serving our nation and reenter their communities with confidence and support. Our fellows gain personal, social, and professional skills in both the classroom and in practice at our inviting neighborhood bakery. What differentiates the Dog Tag Fellowship Program is a combination of resilience-focused curriculum, high-touch community-building, and powerful experiential learning through apprentice-style training.
  • StreetShares Foundation
    • The StreetShares Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that exists to inspire, educate and support the military entrepreneurial community. Launched on Veterans Day 2016, the StreetShares Foundation’s programs provide access to capital opportunities, educational content, mentors, coaching and networking events built to serve military community entrepreneurs nationwide. Our grant program, the Veteran Small Business Award, provides a boost of sought-after financial support to help veterans who lack the financial means to start or grow their small businesses. Through the Veteran Small Business Award, the StreetShares Foundation is mobilizing military community entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, create jobs, and maximize their social impact on the military community.
  • Iona College
    • Iona College opened its doors in 1940 with nine Christian Brothers and six lay faculty greeting the first class. Their goal was to open new paths to economic and social advancement for the sons of New York’s working class. They gave their new college the name of Iona, after a small island located in the Inner Hebrides just off the west coast of Scotland. It was on this tiny island, in 563, where the Irish monk Saint Columba established an abbey from which missionaries went forth to teach and evangelize. The island of Iona became a center for faith and learning, which contributed significantly to the religious and cultural development of Western Europe. As did the monks of St. Columba’s time, Iona College’s founders believed in giving students the best secular training while educating the “whole person” – mind, heart and spirit.
  • UTA VBOC
    • UTAVBOC provides collaborative, hands-on, interactive learning opportunities including classroom instruction and opportunities to work with experienced coaches and mentors, attend workshops, and develop connections.  Through training programs, one-on-one business counseling, accredited university courses, practical seminars, relevant workshops, expert referrals and veteran focused outreach activities, UTAVBOC serves as the SBA resource for veterans. UTAVBOC services are funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the SBA in order to empower transitioning veterans, disabled veterans, National Guard, active and reserve component members and their spouses to grow the U.S. economy and its employment base, while adding value to the communities in which they live and serve.
  • Bowers & Co.
    • Bowers & Company CPAs is an accounting and financial services team of certified public accountants, tax experts, and financial planners who will walk you through challenging financial decisions with ease.
  • People Fund
    • PeopleFund’s small business loans help entrepreneurs enhance their businesses and keep local economies growing. With financing available for equipment purchases, permanent working capital term loans, and revolving lines of credit, we provide access to capital with low down payment or equity contribution, flexible underwriting, no pre-payment penalties, and a lending team dedicated to help you succeed through one-on-one training and business assistance & education. We focus on women, minorities, veterans, and businesses in low to moderate income areas to make sure everyone has a chance at the American Dream
  • NVSBC
    • NVSBC provides nationally recognized Training, Networking, and Advocacy for Veteran small business entrepreneurs in the federal market to ensure they are Procurement Ready and have enhanced access to opportunities to start, operate, sustain, and grow competitive and strong businesses serving Federal agencies and other government contractors.
  • OneGroup
    • OneGroup exists to reduce risk for individuals and businesses and to assist them in being successful in their personal and commercial endeavors. We are committed to always returning superior service and value to our clients for which they reward us with their loyalty.
  • Military Spouse JD Network
    • The Military Spouse JD Network (MSJDN) was formed in Summer 2011 by two military spouses frustrated with the challenges of maintaining a legal career that seemed incompatible with the military lifestyle. They formed MSJDN to advocate for licensing accommodations for military spouses, including bar membership without additional examination, as well as network with other military spouses with JDs.
  • Hiline
    • Hi-Line has grown from those humble beginnings into a nationwide distributor of industrial MRO supplies. Today, Hi-Line’s Territory Managers drive fully stocked mobile stores with direct access to over 100,000+ parts. Our Territory Managers are highly trained and equipped to serve the needs of the transportation, aviation, facilities maintenance, aerospace, medical, military, marine, power generation, manufacturing and heavy equipment industries.