Texas Veterans Commission, U.S. Small Business Administration Open New Center to Expand Support for 1.5 Million Texas Veterans

Organizations launch first of five new Veteran Business Outreach Centers

across the state

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) celebrated the grand opening of a new “Super” Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) in San Antonio, which will expand entrepreneurship training, counseling, mentorship and business development resources for veterans, service members, and military spouses across the state of Texas. In its first year, this Super VBOC will establish four locations across Texas to be opened in areas with the highest concentrations of veterans and military spouses, expanding access to small business services for the military‑connected community. SBA and TVC marked the grand opening on June 12, 2026 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that was attended by SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, TVC senior leadership, state and local leaders, and veterans from across the community.

As the nation’s top state for job creation and one of the most veteran-friendly in America, Texas continues to invest in initiatives that help veterans turn military experience into entrepreneurship. The San Antonio site represents an important step in a broader expansion of small business resources in Texas, backed by Governor Greg Abbott, funded by SBA, and administered through the Texas Veterans Commission’s Veteran Entrepreneur Program (VEP).

“Texas is proud of its partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Texas Veterans Commission on this new Super Veterans Business Outreach Center in San Antonio. The center stands as the first of five we will establish across the state,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “We give our 1.5 million veterans the training and resources they need to build businesses that create jobs and strengthen our economy. Texas remains the best state in the nation for those who served to succeed as entrepreneurs.”

“Texas is leading with a bold, first-of-its-kind model that will expand the reach of veteran entrepreneurship support across the state,” said SBA Administrator Loeffler. “Through this new Super VBOC network, the SBA and the Texas Veterans Commission are creating new pathways for veterans, service members, and military spouses to build businesses, create jobs, and strengthen the American economy. As the daughter of a veteran and small business owner, I know firsthand the strength that our veterans bring to the private sector. They have already served with honor, and this partnership will help more of them continue that service as business owners and job creators.”

U.S. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler (center-right) with TVC Chairwoman Laura Koerner (center-left) celebrate the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of Veterans Business Outreach Center, San Antonio. (Photo: TVC)

Located at the Good Samaritan Veterans Outreach & Transition Center at St. Philip’s College, the San Antonio VBOC represents the first of five planned centers rolling out statewide under a federally approved proposal managed by the TVC Veteran Entrepreneur Program. Serving the nation’s largest veteran population of 1.5 million veterans, these centers provide localized training, counseling, mentorship and business development support to veterans, service members and military spouses, helping translate military leadership into small business success. The San Antonio center’s strategic home at 202 Connelly Street offers an accessible, state-of-the-art hub featuring private counseling offices, classrooms, a computer lab, and a child-friendly zone to support student veterans and families balancing training with caregiving responsibilities.

Recent data underscores the massive economic potential of this federal-state pipeline. TVC’s veteran entrepreneur initiatives have already supported veteran-owned firms generating over $1.1 billion in total business revenue and $711 million in sales. This new center will supercharge that momentum by offering direct pathways to federal Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certification, state-level Texas VetHUB certifications, and critical capital readiness.

“Supporting veteran entrepreneurs is one of the most meaningful ways we can honor those who served,” said TVC Chairwoman and Navy veteran Laura Koerner. “This launch represents a powerhouse collaboration between federal funding, state-level execution, and local academic partnerships. Through this partnership, we are bridging the awareness gap and directly delivering specialized local support to veterans where they live and work.”

​​The TVC San Antonio VBOC will deliver highly targeted resources designed to address common barriers to business success, including capital constraints, startup logistics, and market validation. Key features of the program include:

• ​Boots to Business (B2B): Direct delivery of the two-day Foundations of Entrepreneurship course at installations and locations, including Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Bliss and Houston.
• ​Capital Readiness: Immediate, strategic connections to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) like PeopleFund and LiftFund to solve early-stage capital needs, alongside SBA partners like SCORE, SBDCs, and APEX Accelerators.
• ​Phased Statewide Rollout: Following the San Antonio launch, the TVC Model VBOC expansion will roll out additional locations through 2026 and early 2027.

The grand opening ceremony and facility tour brought together federal, state, and local leaders, veteran entrepreneurs, business partners and community stakeholders to celebrate the launch of the new center and its role in expanding economic opportunities for Texas veterans and military families. Additional photos of the event are available here.