Veterans Business Outreach Center Grand Opening Set for June 21 at ODU
Rep. Glenn Nye will join Old Dominion University officials to open the Hampton Roads Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), at 10 a.m. Monday, June 21. The center, which offers entrepreneurial development services to military veterans and reservists, is the newest unit within ODU's innovative Business Gateway initiative.
Funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the only such center in Virginia, the VBOC will provide outreach, assessment, long- and short-term business training, counseling, electronic and online assistance, and other technical assistance to veterans and U.S. military reserve-component business owners and entrepreneurs.
"This center is very important for veterans and reservists, providing them vital tools to succeed in a competitive business environment," noted Jerry Robertson, associate vice president and executive director of the ODU Business Gateway. "It also is a great example of why we created the ODU Business Gateway. It's a great way to connect the real-world expertise of Old Dominion University with talented, driven entrepreneurs to grow our economy."
Nye has been a strong supporter of military veterans, conducting hearings into contract fraud in a government program intended to help disabled veterans. He will join Old Dominion President John R. Broderick, USN (Ret.) Capt. Fred Crecelius, executive director of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, and VBOC director Cindy Walters in a short ceremony marking the opening at Innovation Research Park @ ODU, Building II. Kathleen Murray, a service-disabled veteran and founder of Norfolk's LAN Contracting Inc., will also be on hand to talk about her success using ODU's government contracting assistance program.
"Being able to provide Veteran Business Owners access to mentoring by other successful Veteran Business Owners in addition to the business assistance resources of the ODU Business Gateway, will be a core element of the HRVBOC," Walters said
"I expect that constantly identifying and responding to those needs as the business environment changes will be the way in which the HRVBOC will set itself apart as an innovative model for the nation."
The Old Dominion University Business Gateway is a business-friendly entry point to the intellectual capital, innovative technologies and world-class infrastructure of Old Dominion University. The ODU Business Gateway offers services matched to market needs, including business and entrepreneurial consulting and services, advanced manufacturing and technology solutions, training and professional development, unencumbered business consulting, and veterans business outreach and procurement assistance. The result is a dedicated resource for companies, non-profits, government agencies and entrepreneurs to help solve business problems, expand capabilities, and create new ventures.
For more information call 757-683-5505 or visit www.ODUBusinessGateway.com.