Veterans Forum to be Held August 27

VALDOSTA - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will present a free forum for veterans from 8 a.m. to noon on August 27 in the Cypress Room of the University Center, 1215 N. Patterson Street. The presentation will address agency programs and services for active and retired military personnel who plan to start or small businesses.

More specifically, the free forum will focus on loan programs and other assistance available from the SBA as well as small business provisions allocated in the 2009 American Recovery Act. The act’s stipulations for service-connected and disabled veteran-owned small businesses will also be discussed.

Attendees will receive information about the SBA Patriot Express Loan Initiative. This program offers guaranteed business loans of up to $500,000 for those who qualify:

- Veterans, service-connected disabled veterans, active duty military personnel within 24 months of retirement or 12 months to transition into civilian society.

- Members of the National Guard and Army Reserve or their current spouses.

- Widowed spouses of service members or veterans who died during service or of a service-connected disability.

Preregistration to attend the forum is mandatory. To register online, go to www.sba.gov/ga and select Public Training and Seminars “Register Now” in the Spotlight section. Please include your name, telephone number and/or e-mail address. You may also register by fax at 202-481-5239.

Others involved with the forum include the SBA’s SCORE counseling program, the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center network, and the Georgia Institute of Technology Procurement Assistance Center.

For additional information on SBA programs for veterans, go to www.sba.gov/vets