VOB Timeline

THE HISTORY OF THE VETERAN BUSINESS MOVEMENT

1979	Rep. Edward Koch (who would later gain fame as mayor of New York City) puts forth legislation stating that the Small Business Administration must show special consideration to veterans in all its programs. But this consideration is never truly defined.
1982	SBA defines the “special consideration” portion of the 1979 legislation, which results in the establishment of a direct-loan program for veterans.
1986	John Lopez and a group of veteran business owners decide to form a support group to create opportunities for VOBs and the Association for Service Disabled Veterans (ASDV) is born.
1989	California establishes the Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Program under Public Contract Code 10115, which awards 3 percent of all state contracts to certified disabled veterans.
1998	SBA Administrator Aida Alvarez issues an order to establish a veterans task force that would have a voice in all of the agency’s programs. The Task Force for Veterans’ Entrepreneurship (formerly Task Force, now known as VET-Force) is launched.
1999	U.S. Rep. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) (at the time) sponsored Public Law 106-50 which created creating a 3 percent federal procurement goal for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOBs). This 3 percent goal also applies to all prime contractors of the federal government.
2003	Public Law 108-183 (The Veterans Benefit Act of 2003) signed by President Bush enables SDVOBs to receive sole source and restricted competition contracts for goods and services used by the U.S. government.
2004	Veterans Business Journal (now Vetrepreneur) publishes its inaugural issue featuring Mark “Ranger” Jones. Executive Order 13360 is signed by President Bush to increase opportunities for SDVOBs.
2006	Public Law 109-461, or the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006, gave priority to veteran-owned businesses in contracting with the VA and also gave the VA the authority to set its own goals. Presently, the VA’s spending goal is no less than 10 percent of procurement dollars for all veteran-owned businesses, regardless of disability status, in addition to a 7 percent goal for SDVOBs.
2007	National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) is formed. Tony Jimenez - Vetrepreneur of the Year®
2008	Larry Broughton - Vetrepreneur of the Year® NaVOBA starts: • Corporate Advisory Council • Veterans Business Advisory Council • Franchise Program • Outreach partnership with the ACCE (American Chamber of Commerce Executives)
2009	Mark Llano - Vetrepreneur of the Year® Scott Denniston joins NaVOBA as its director of programs. John Lopez joins NaVOBA as its director of policy.
2010	NaVOBA launches BuyVeteran.com and takes the veteran-owned business movement to Main Street allowing all 3 million vetrepreneurs to capitalize on America’s desire to Buy Veteran.

• The BuyVeteran.com database allows you to find other VOBs and Buy Veteran as well.
• Other veteran-owned businesses want to Buy Veteran.
• It allows you to reap more of the rewards you earned by courageously serving your country.
• It’s an exceptional value for the exposure vs. the cost. In fact, it will pay for itself in new business!
• There is no other marketplace that brings consumers who want to Buy Veteran and veteran-owned businesses together.
• It will expose your business to a larger, national consumer base.
• 94% of American consumers said the gratitude they feel makes them more likely to Buy Veteran.
• 95% of Americans feel a sense of gratitude toward military veterans.
• 70% of American consumers would rather buy from a veteran.
• It will grow your business.