A total of $100,000 was awarded to four veteran owned businesses for their participation in the annual VetSmallBiz Growth Challenge. The Challenge is operated by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University in conjunction with The Marcus Foundation, founded by Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus. In addition to awarding a financial prize to its winners, the competition also offers 3 months of mentorship to its winners. To view the list of winners please take a look below:
- 1st Place – $50,000: Leah Olszewski, FEMTAC – Fort Walton Beach, FL
- 2nd Place – $25,000: Kathryn Thomas, Yoga 4 Change – Atlantic Beach, FL
- 3rd Place – $10,000: Jim Raschella, Off Duty Blue – Syracuse, NY
- Most Innovative Venture – $5,000: Jim Raschella, Off Duty Blue – Syracuse, NY
- Best Social Venture – $5,000: Kathryn Thomas, Yoga 4 Change – Atlantic Beach, FL
- Best Venture Impacting Veterans – $5,000: Ken Kelso, Military Express LLC – Mandeville, LA
“First prize winner, FEMTAC, provides tactical apparel and gear to improve the safety and support the performance for women whose work and/or passion takes them to the field. FEMTAC is founded, managed and designed by women in U.S. military and law enforcement. Second prize and Best Social Venture went to Yoga 4 Change which provides yoga classes for PTSD and other trauma survivors from different backgrounds. Off Duty Blue, a business which makes it easy to hire off-duty law enforcement for private security won both third prize and Most Innovative Venture. Military Express, winner of Best Venture Impacting Veterans, is building a corps of commercial truck drivers who are applying their military training.”
Supplierty News is always happy to promote opportunities and successes made by Veteran owned businesses. As always if you have any information to more awards, events or other opportunities please let us know.