SBA vets small-business week under way

The nationwide Veterans Small Business Week began Monday and continues through Nov. 11, to coincide with Veterans Day.

The observance prompted a Carson City veteran and small-business owner Wednesday to praise the many government programs to help veterans now under way.

Stan Jones, whose military career lasted three decades, and his wife, Sue, own and operate The Purple Avocado gift store at 904 N. Curry St. downtown, and he is the immediate past chairman of the city’s Chamber of Commerce. He said the week sponsored for veterans with small firms by the U.S. Small Business Administration is one example of many opportunities to recognize and aid veterans in the private sector.

“There are a lot of great programs for veterans out there,” Jones said. “I’m all for them. I really, truly support them all.” Jones said sometimes bureaucracies react more slowly than he might like, and programs sometimes seem focused on urban services, but that doesn’t negate the value of such help.

Jones said he and his wife have had the gift shop for 13 years and he wasn’t involved with SBA for a loan to get it going. He credited customers in part for The Purple Avocado’s success.

“Carson’s been good to us,” he said.

The SBA week for veterans owning or contemplating small businesses will have the agency’s staff across the nation working with partner organizations on educational efforts, training mentor help for veterans. The SBA provides access to business counseling and training, capital and business development opportunities through government contracts, according to an SBA news release.

The release touting the week from Monday to next Monday noted that in fiscal year 2013, the agency supported $1.86 billion in loans for 3,094 veteran-owned small firms. The SBA also said census data shows there are 2.4 million veteran-owned small businesses employing almost 6 million people.