Tester announces Big Sky EDA as new Veterans Business Outreach Center

Senator helps secure Montana veterans business center

(U.S. Senate) -Senator Jon Tester today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration will locate a Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) within Big Sky Economic Development Authority (EDA) in Billings.

Veterans Business Outreach Centers provide business training, counseling and technical support to veteran-owned businesses and to veterans considering starting a business.

In February, Tester urged the Small Business Administration to locate its northwest regional VBOC within Big Sky EDA, a Billings-based public-private partnership supporting businesses and community development in Yellowstone County.

“Veterans deserve the opportunity to start a business, and it’s important we provide them with the tools they earned to help them get their businesses off the ground when they come home,” Tester said. “These centers are an excellent way to identify, reach and support veteran business owners.”

The Big Sky EDA VBOC will serve veterans in Montana, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Other states in the region applied to house this VBOC but Big Sky EDA prevailed in a competitive grant process.

Tester is supporting strong funding of VBOCs as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Tester’s letter to the Small Business Administration is available online HERE.