The New Jersey SBDC at the Rutgers School of Business in Camden, New Jersey, has been conducting the “Boots to Business” Entrepreneurial Program at the Fort Dix/McGuire Air Force Base in Lakehurst, New Jersey for the past two years. Partnering with the Small Business Administration Office of Veterans Business Development, Americas SBDC and the New Jersey SBDC, the Rutgers Camden SBDC has lectured hundreds of returning soldiers seeking to start their own businesses.
“Boots to Business” enables military service members and their spouses to explore careers in business ownership and self-employment, by showing them how to apply their military skills to start and grow a business. It helps them evaluate the feasibility of their business concepts and connects them to SBDCs and other SBA resource partners.
Robert Palumbo, Regional Director of the Rutgers Camden SBDC, and his staff find the opportunity to help returning soldiers fulfill their dreams of owning their own businesses to be an honor and a privilege. “It has been an honor to give back to our military. The classes have been dynamic and engaging. The skills the students learn will be transferable as they embark on their ventures,” says Guy Salisch, SBDC consultant at the Rutgers Camden SBDC.
“Boots to Business” is offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and SBDCs across the nation as a training track within the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program (TAP). The program is available on more than 165 U.S. military installations worldwide. More than 25,000 military service members and spouses have been trained since the program started in July, 2012.
For more information on the program and where it is offered, click here.