Manatee County Launches Veterans Entrepreneur Program in Partnership with 26 West Entrepreneurship Center

Manatee County, FL – In an exciting new initiative, Manatee County, in collaboration with the 26 West Entrepreneurship Center at State College of Florida, is set to launch the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program, designed to support veterans and their families in starting and growing businesses. The program will offer entrepreneurship classes, workshops, and networking events, all free of charge, thanks to funding provided by the Florida Legislature and Veterans Florida.

The Veterans Entrepreneur Program is part of the inaugural launch of the Veteran Connections Hub, a one-stop resource center currently under development in Manatee County. The hub will provide veterans and their families with easy access to a variety of services, benefits, counseling, and community support, helping them transition from military service to successful entrepreneurial ventures.

Key dates for the program’s rollout include an October 24 event at 26 West, featuring a panel of veteran entrepreneurs, followed by a Pitch Showcase for the GrowBiz cohort on November 12. The official program kickoff is slated for January 8, 2024.

26 West is also developing a dedicated landing page to promote the program, where veterans and their families can register their interest. Veterans Florida and the 26 West team are working together to ensure that the program will help participants leverage the skills learned in the military to succeed in the business world.

This new program highlights Manatee County’s commitment to serving its veteran community and providing them with opportunities to thrive in civilian life. Veterans and their spouses who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs are encouraged to get involved, with more details to follow as the program develops.

For further information, veterans can contact Lee dePalo at lee.depalo@mymanatee.org.