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Veteran-Owned Wepa Lands $1M Contract with Port of San Diego

November 11, 2024
Veteran-Owned Wepa Lands $1M Contract with Port of San Diego

Wepa Commercial Cleaning, a veteran-owned and -operated janitorial and disinfecting company, is celebrating a major milestone. The San Diego-based business has secured a $1 million one-year contract with the Port of San Diego.

Wepa was founded by Francisco Rivera, a U.S. military veteran, who has built the company into a top-rated business with coverage in major publications. Wepa provides a full range of commercial cleaning and disinfecting services, employing skilled workers and utilizing advanced procedures to ensure healthy environments for organizations’ employees, customers, and guests.

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Lima Charlie Inc.: An Innovative Veteran-Owned Government Relations Firm

November 6, 2024
Lima Charlie Inc.: An Innovative Veteran-Owned Government Relations Firm

Lima Charlie Inc. has carved out a unique niche in the highly competitive government contracting space. Founded during the pandemic, this service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) has developed a completely remote, cloud-based model to provide expert government relations services to federal agencies and local municipalities.

Led by CEO David Waldbauer, a service-disabled veteran, Lima Charlie is known for its quality of management, which is well-organized, agile, detail-oriented, and focused on simplicity. These core strengths allow the firm to consistently deliver positive client experiences, reduce risk, and optimize costs.

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Five Ways to Support Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

November 2, 2021
By: Sharita Humphrey

99.9% of veteran-owned businesses are small businessesBusinesses have been struggling as a result of the pandemic and the negative shift of the economy. Most small businesses have had to reframe their operations in these difficult times. And small businesses owned by veterans are no exception.

This week is National Veterans Small Business Week. Don’t you think it’s time to pay back the heroism of our beloved veterans? So what can you do to support these veteran-owned businesses? If this question is near to your heart, here are five ways you can help those who have done so much for us.

1. Purchase Products from Veteran-Owned Establishments

This is simple. Patronizing their businesses is a clear-cut way to extend your support to veteran-owned businesses. Your purchases help boost revenues. You don’t have to spend a lot. Just buy the things you need. What matters is supporting veteran-owned businesses through your purchases. (more…)

America’s SBDCs Are Celebrating National Veterans Small Business Week

November 2, 2020

National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) 2020 takes place November 2 – 6, 2020. As always, our goal is to raise awareness of veteran small business ownership and encourage communities to support their veteran-owned businesses.

This year offers an important opportunity to support our veteran small business community as they adapt, pivot, and face hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) celebrates, connects and empowers service members (including National Guard and Reserve members), veterans, military spouse entrepreneurs and business owners — past, present and future — during National Veterans Small Business Week. America’s SBDCs provide entrepreneurial resources to support transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses at all stages of small business ownership. Share on X No matter where you are in your entrepreneurial journey or where you are located across the country, you can find transition assistance, entrepreneurial training, government contracting opportunities, disaster assistance, and access to capital right in your local neighborhood. (more…)

Military Spouse Turns Idea Into Fully Baked Business

May 4, 2020

It starts with an idea – that “Aha!” moment when you realize your business concept has the potential to be great. But it takes work, dedication and commitment to make that idea a reality. Entrepreneurs with military experience – whether service members, veterans or military spouses – are uniquely positioned to succeed as small business owners.

Jilan Hall-Johnson is a military spouse who used her experience and skills to turn her bruncherie idea into a fully baked business. After her husband, DeMarco Johnson, was stationed in Billings, Montana as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, she was on the hunt for new employment opportunities in the area. Assistance for military spouse employment in Billings was limited, so she decided she was ready to explore entrepreneurship as the next step in her career.

Jilan knew she had a great idea, and the passion and drive to be a small business owner. But she wasn’t sure how to start her business. She decided to turn to her local Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) at Big Sky Economic Development for guidance and support. Jilan and the Big Sky VBOC immediately began working together to put her business idea on paper. The VBOC helped her develop her business plan, establish a marketing strategy, acquire a business location, find access to capital, and accomplish so much more right in her local community. (more…)