Florida is encouraging veterans to start their own businesses with an entrepreneurship program kicking off next January.
Veterans Florida is a government-backed non-profit built around making Florida attractive for exiting service members. Executive director Bobby Carbonell says one of their initiatives is a program helping veterans start businesses.
“Military service gives them that key skill of tenacity and learning to do things with limited resources, attention to detail that entrepreneurs need,” Carbonell says. “We just want to give them the foundation of a good entrepreneurial education so they can realize the American dream, and be their own boss.”
Carbonell says in the programs first year they served more than 150 veterans with service going back as far as the Vietnam War. He expects almost 300 participants next year. The deadline to apply is December 14.