The colors are presented at the Vet Biz Rally Point Summit in Clovis Wednesday. Photo by Frank Lopez

The Small Business Administration (SBA) held a workshop Wednesday morning at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District to provide veterans information on resources available to start a business.

The SBA joined with community partners for the Vet Biz Rally Point Summit, including Access Plus Capital, the Valley Community Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Central Valley Women’s Entrepreneur Center (WEC), Cen Cal business Finance Group, Central Valley SCORE and Norcal Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC).

Topics discussed included capital acquisition, grants, government contracts and how to get certified as a veteran-owned business.

Dawn Golick, SBA district director for the Fresno area, provided the opening comments, which were followed by comments from Clovis Memorial District CEO Lorenzo Rios, a presentation of colors, the singing of the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance.

There was an introduction by SBA Region IX Director Elmy Bermejo, who oversees SBA programs in California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands.

She said 1 out of 20 businesses are owned by a veteran and that four million people are employed by veteran entrepreneurs. That’s nearly 2 million veteran business owners across the nation.

A government contracting panel featuring SBA Business Opportunity Specialist Tom Scheu, and Peter Estrada, a veteran and former business owner, was moderated by SBA Economic Development Specialist Victor Bribiesca.

 A counseling services panel was moderated by Golick and featured Estrada and Kelly Anthis of the Norcal VBOC, Valley Community SBDC Director Rich Mostert, SCORE Deputy District Director Peter Fong and Central Valley WEC Director Ana Alfaro.

This was followed by a capital and funding panel featuring representatives of local banks and lending firms.