Veterans Florida and SPC Partner for Second Year to Offer Entrepreneurship Program

11/22/2024

To help translate the skills learned in the military to entrepreneurship, Veterans Florida and St. Petersburg College (SPC) have joined forces for a second consecutive year to offer the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program. The statewide program equips veterans with the skills and resources to transition from service to successful business ownership.

This 8-week, cohort-based learning program highlights the fundamentals of launching and growing a business. It connects state business leaders with participants seeking to become entrepreneurs and offers veterans resources like workshops, online training, mentoring, and networking opportunities. It is an SPC workforce initiative that continues the College’s mission of providing noncredit, short-term programs to help students find better jobs, lead better lives and build better communities.

Program expenses for all participants will be covered through funding provided by the Florida Legislature and Veterans Florida, a nonprofit organization created by the state of Florida to help military veterans transition to civilian life.

“Serving as an instructor for the Veterans Florida Program at SPC is incredibly rewarding because I get to witness the incredible drive, creativity and evolution of those who participate,” said SPC Professor Greta Kishbaugh. “They arrive eager to learn the fundamentals of launching and growing their businesses and leave not only with the tools to succeed but with a renewed sense of purpose and vision for their future.”

SPC is determined to help veterans unlock their entrepreneurial potential. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, between 2014 and 2020, veteran ownership declined from 11% to 8.1% of businesses. At the same time, the composition of veterans is shifting toward women and minority groups. SPC is stepping in to bridge the gap and stop the decline by offering strategic initiatives that support veterans in their entrepreneurial pursuits such as the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurial Program.

The program will run in two cohorts in Spring 2025, the first at SPC’s Clearwater Campus beginning Jan. 21 and the second at The Greenhouse in St. Petersburg starting in March. Veterans interested in the program can apply to participate at stpe.co/VFEP. Participants can be those still fleshing out their business idea or newly embarked on their entrepreneurial journey.

For more information, contact Greta Kishbaugh at Kishbaugh.Greta@spcollege.edu or Meghan Cottrell at Cottrell.Meghan@spcollege.edu.