Building America’s Economy in West Virginia with Veteran Entrepreneurs, one business at a time.

Posted on September 29, 2008
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In West Virginia it’s all about M.E, not “me”, it’s about M.E. Gamble who runs the West Virginia Small Business Development Center for Governor Joe Manchin.  I had the opportunity to work with M.E. to help address Access to Capital needs for Veterans in West Virginia. If you’re a Veteran Entrepreneur in WV you’ll miss utilizing a tremendous asset if you don’t check out what M.E. has to offer. Check out her website at http://www.sbdcwv.org/ . Complemented by great franchise professionals, surety bonding experts and the SBA folks, I got to participate in a well balanced seminar organized by the Veterans Corporation at the Armory in Charleston, WV.  It was a great day!  I got to help some Veteran small business people and then got to drive through some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.  Thanks M.E.! 

 

SBA Veterans Advisory Committee Prepares its four year vision

Posted on September 23, 2008
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Taking the “help desk” back to Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to voice my opinions to the Committee which was completing its annual report on Veterans small business issues. They were very responsive to ideas for expanding and standardizing our help desk concept and using New Markets Tax Credits for Patriot Express Loans. They were also receptive to the idea of pointing out to Congress the sad fact that recent legislation requiring to establishment of a new Task Force to examine gaps in service to Veteran Small Businesses has already been ignored. The report will go to Congress and the SBA Administrator in October. Hopefully, Congress will pay attention to this important work.

 

The Help Desk goes to the Department of Treasury

Posted on September 16, 2008
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Got to go to the Department of Treasury Building and view their beautiful and unique triple domes. My visit took place the day after announcement of the details of the major meltdown in the US financial system. Expecting a lot of angst, I was relieved to be welcomed by Deputy Treasury Robert Kimmitt who exhibited a calm and confident demeanor. I learned that he was a decorated Vietnam Veteran himself. Most importantly, I learned he was open to suggestions and listened to our quest for New Markets Tax Credits for small business. He readily agreed to put our issue on his agenda to advance Treasury’s goals for helping Veteran owned businesses.

The American Legion comes through for New Markets Tax Credits for Veterans

Posted on August 27, 2008
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As a relatively recent member of the American Legion, I was personally skeptical that a big , old organization could move quickly on passing a resolution supporting New Markets Tax Credits. However, Joe Sharpe, Director of the Economic Commission and his staff guided Resolution 363 to passage at the Legion’s Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Here’s hoping Congress might listen to the Legion’s 2.4+ million members. Veterans got a “twofer” at the conference as Joe also put together outstanding panels showing Veteran and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses how to develop strategies to access contracts with all Federal Agencies.

The Help desk goes to Montana

Posted on August 7, 2008
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Bitterroot ValleyIf you’re ever in Western Montana and you need some assistance with a Veteran issue, go to the Valley Veterans Service Center in the Bitterroot Valley. One of the only private nonprofits with direct computer links to the Veterans Administration, the Center provides a taste of what’s possible when people really want to help veterans with real issues. It was started by one the “good guys” from the Vietnam Era, Ron Skinner. Ron’s passion is the outdoors and he has the soul of real cowboy. I also appreciate him for helping me help the “Three Aces”, three passionate Iraq veterans now trying to live their dream by building their own outfitting business in Montana. My heartfelt thanks to Ron for helping all us Veterans and our children too!

The Veterans Entrepreneurship Task Force (VET –Force) steps up for New Markets Tax Credits for Veteran Owned Small Businesses. Ask a Veteran and you’ll get help!

Posted on July 23, 2008
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The Help Desk asked VET – Force, Chaired by Rick Weidman of Vietnam Veterans of America, to acknowledge an ongoing problem that Veterans  (especially Service Disabled Veterans) have trouble accessing capital for small business ventures. Their answer was swift and forceful. By unanimous consent the VET – Force group, consisting of over a dozen Veteran Service Organizations (including the Association for Service Disabled Veterans, the National Association of Black Veterans, and many other prominent Veteran organizations) passed a resolution supporting more New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) for Small Business, and an accompanying directive to the Small Business Administrator to make the SBA Patriot Loan Program eligible for NMTC. Congress, we hope you’re listening!


What started in Las Vegas for Veteran Small Business is now spreading to Texas

Posted on July 18, 2008
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One of the most difficult things about planning a strategy to sell anything to the federal government is guessing what contract officers are like. Most people don’t have the opportunity to get to know them personally, and this is a serious problem. Building on the work of CVE, and taking a new approach to veteran small business procurement assistance is Genesis Concepts a Service Disabled Owned Business. They have partnered with several players in the Department of Defense to bring Veterans a well planned conference where meeting with contract officers will be the main event.


Good luck to all with this public/private venture slated for November 2008.  Even if you aren’t close to San Antonio any Veteran who wants to sell to the government should check out this conference here.

TVC’s help desk goes to Las Vegas and can tell what happened there!

Posted on July 13, 2008
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Having been to an earlier version of the National Veteran Small Business Conference I wasn’t ready for the magnitude of positive change for the 2008 participants. The depth of the educational sessions were above par, and the attitude towards all the Veteran small business attendees was noteworthy. I was fortunate enough to be on a panel with two of the top men in small business assistance, Don Wilson, CEO of the Association of Small Business Development Centers and Morris Hudson, President of the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, both key resources for any small business and especially anyone seeking to do business with the federal government. The conference attendance was over four times larger than when it began, and the quality of match making activities offered the best opportunity for business networking I’ve seen to date. Again, kudos to those hard working folks at the Center for Veterans Enterprise. They even invented a new brand for a Service Disabled Owned Business which I will proudly display to all.

“Accountability” in Government – from the “Veterans Administration”? Who would have guessed it?

Posted on June 23, 2008
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I saw this email that stated the VA was holding its annual “accountability” conference. The concept of government and accountability seemed an oxymoron, so I had to go. The agenda was all about VA acknowledging the progress many government agencies had made in their goals for contracting to Service Disabled Veterans. To be sure, there are many miles to go but to my surprise progress was finally significant. In addition, Scott Dennison who runs the VA’s Center for Veteran Enterprise, brought in hundreds of Veteran owned firms to provide constructive criticism and had them set the tone for broadening future efforts Kudos to Scott! Who knows, maybe this accountability thing might catch on in other agencies?


The Help Desk goes to the Aspen Institute for the Child Care Industry

Posted on June 18, 2008
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I was asked to contribute to discussions on improving access to finance in the child care industry, and initially felt somewhat out of place. However I was quickly put at ease by the friendly manner of all the participants at Aspen Institute symposium to link economic development to child care initiatives. Led by Bill Meyers, one of the all time greats in community development, the group listened to this Veteran’s suggestion to use more New Market Tax Credits (“NMTC”) for small business, especially child care small businesses. My work with the Veterans Corporation indicates there are many veterans who want to enter this industry and partner with their communities. A boost in the amount NMTC for small business could make a big difference in the child care field.

Thanks Bill.

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  • About

    I'm Jim Mingey and I travel across the country in my jeep helping service disabled veterans build businesses. This is a journal of my days changing people's lives.