SYRACUSE — The Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) at Syracuse University will use a federal grant of $150,000 for entrepreneurship training for women service members, veterans, and military spouses. V-WISE is operated by Syracuse’s Institute for Veterans & Military Families (IVMF). The $150,000 grant represents half of the $300,000 in grant funding […]
SYRACUSE — The Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) at Syracuse University will use a federal grant of $150,000 for entrepreneurship training for women service members, veterans, and military spouses.
V-WISE is operated by Syracuse’s Institute for Veterans & Military Families (IVMF).
The $150,000 grant represents half of the $300,000 in grant funding that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) awarded in this round of national grants, the SBA announced.
“The U.S. Small Business Administration is proud to award the V-WISE program at Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans & Military Families $150,000 as a direct result of their stellar track record fostering entrepreneurship to women servicemembers, veterans and military spouses,” Steve Bulger, SBA regional administrator, said in a news release.
Bulger oversees the federal agency’s operations in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
V-WISE is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the SBA and philanthropic support of corporate and foundation partners nationwide, per the Syracuse University website.
About the program
The V-WISE program at Syracuse University’s IVMF is an “intensive,” three-phase program containing a 15-day online preparatory course, a three-day residency program, and post-training technical support.
This training program in entrepreneurship and small-business management assists women veterans, female military spouses/partners, and service members “find their passion” and learn the “business savvy” skills necessary to turn an idea or startup into a growing venture.
“Women veterans represent a fast-growing segment of the veteran population. As that number grows, so has the number of female veterans who continue to serve their country by becoming small business owners. The SBA Syracuse district office has a long-established relationship with the V-WISE program at IVMF, a top-notch resource in Central New York’s backyard. Together, we can continue empowering our veterans and military entrepreneurs,” Bernard J. Paprocki, director of the SBA Syracuse district, said.
The Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship program will use the SBA funding to support its entrepreneurial training program for female veterans of all service eras and branches.
The program works with those applicants who are interested in either starting a new small business or growing an existing one. V-WISE enables female veterans to “find their passion” and learn business-savvy skills in order to turn their ideas or businesses into growth ventures while “recognizing entrepreneurship as an important part of economic growth nationwide,” the SBA said.
“Our long partnership with the SBA has created significant opportunity for those who have worn our nation’s uniform. We are honored and grateful for this most recent grant and look forward to working alongside SBA to propel veteran business owners toward their goals of successful entrepreneurship, both for their benefit and to the benefit of our communities,” Misty Stutsman Fox, director of entrepreneurship and small business programs at the IVMF, said.
