SDSU Calexico campus helping veterans with their dreams

Growing and starting a small business - News 11's Wiley Jawhary reports

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and San Diego State University in Calexico are helping veterans start or grow their businesses.

According to the 2020 Annual Business Survey, approximately 18.7% of U.S. employer businesses were minority-owned, and veteran-owned businesses made up about 5.7% of all businesses.

The program called 'Boots to Business' wants veterans to know that they have the character, discipline, and skills needed to succeed as small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Jamye Pritchett Solorzano is an economic development specialist and an administrative officer with the U.S. SBA. She says veterans have many resources to be successful with their own businesses.

"One of the features of this reboot, after the course, is done, there is a follow-up training through Mississippi State University, and they will have made connections," she said.

Solorzano says the networking after this event will give veterans the tools to increase their confidence.