VA Loan Updates

A two-day Gateway to Government Contracting conference at the Antlers Hilton Hotel drew businesses from across Colorado and neighboring states interested in competing for government contracts. Jovita Carranza, deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, was the keynote speaker Thursday.

Carranza, who spoke about opportunities for veteranowned businesses, talked to The Gazette before her speech.

QUESTION: Are you hearing from more and more veterans seeking to start small businesses?

ANSWER: Yes. As a matter of fact, each year we speak to about 100,000 veterans who are interested in pursuing a personal-business venture. We’ve learned that both veterans and reservists have the same burning entrepreneurial spirit that actually has strengthened our nation’s economy. So we’re hoping to develop this year, in a very focused manner, some robust loan opportunities for them and programs.

Q: Sen. John Kerry complained last year that the one office at the SBA solely dedicated to helping veteran-owned businesses gain access to federal contracts was closed. Has that hampered SBA efforts to help those veterans?

A: Not at all. As a matter of fact, there is interest on both sides of the Hill, and so we are very much engaged in developing new vehicles or expanding the current vehicles we have, the communication vehicles we have, to reinforce what we call business-development channels. We have about 10,000 SCORE volunteers and they are retired executives that volunteer their time to help build small businesses. Veterans and others have access to them. We have small-business development centers, and they have a deep penetration as well, about 1,100 centers.

Q: Federal agencies are required to award at least 3 percent of their contracts to small businesses owned by servicedisabled veterans. Is that number being met?

A: The SBA actually reached 4 percent and the VA met their target of 3 percent, and we are working with the other agencies to make further gains.

Q: Generally, do veterans have an advantage in securing government contracts, particularly defense, with their knowledge of the military?

A: What they leverage is their honorable service to the country. That’s their key leverage point, their strength and visibility. All of corporate America respects that service, and so now it’s our opportunity to acknowledge them as business people.

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