In partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA), Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) of the Dakotas equips active duty service members, retired military, National Guard and Reserve personnel and their spouses with the resources needed to help them start, purchase, or grow their businesses. VBOC of the Dakotas serves the states of North Dakota and South Dakota. The main office is located in the Center for Innovation, Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center on the University of North Dakota Campus.

The Boots to Business and Boots to Business Reboot curricula provide assistance to those interested in exploring business ownership or other self-employment opportunities by leading them through the processes used to evaluate business concepts and by providing the foundational knowledge required to develop a business plan. Additionally, participants are introduced to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) resources that are available to access start-up capital, technical assistance, and contracting opportunities.

Boots to Business (B2B) is an entrepreneurial education and training program offered by the SBA as part of the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program (TAP). This course is open to service members (including members of the National Guard and Reserves) and their spouses. During this training workshop you will learn about business start-up, market research, financing your venture, picking the correct legal entity, and more, including information about the resource partners available to help you along the way. The B2B Reboot curriculum starts with the "Introduction to Entrepreneurship" course that provides you with an overview of the opportunities and challenges of business ownership. During the class, you will learn business fundamentals and techniques for evaluating the feasibility of your business concepts.

Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Dakotas provides no-cost business development training to empower veteran entrepreneurs through a range of services, support, and resource partners. Although our primary office is located in Grand Forks, advising sessions can be held in-person, via phone, or via video conference.

To contact VBOC of the Dakotas, call 701.738.4850 or email them at dakotas.vboc@UND.edu.

You may also contact Charles Mix County Veterans Service Officer Jerry Seiner at 605-487-7691 for more information.