Why do I need a detailed business plan?

Most if not all financial institutions will not lend support to a business without, at minimum, a financial plan accounting for repayment of any debt obligations, required assets, operating costs, and contingencies for both failure and/or overwhelming success.

Do Veterans have advantages for government contracts?

In general, a percentage of all federal contracting dollars goes to businesses owned by service disabled veterans. While both state and federal agencies are actively seeking service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB) as vendors, the road to successful federal contracting is a multi-year process and requires substantial registration and certification. To learn more, click here .

Supporting Veteran Entrepreneurs Across Tennessee & Kentucky

Equipping veterans and military spouses to launch and grow businesses.

Become A VBOC Member

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The Veteran's Business Outreach Center at Pathway Lending

The Veteran's Business Outreach Center (VBOC) at Pathway Lending is a specialized program designed to empower and support veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses in launching and growing successful businesses. The VBOC provides no-cost entrepreneurial development services tailored specifically to the unique needs of the military community.

The service territory for the VBOC at Pathway Lending includes Kentucky and Tennessee. Services, including the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Boots to Business program, are available at Fort Campbell, Fort Knox, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, and Naval Support Activity Mid-South at Millington.

Not in our service area? Find your local VBOC here.

Veterans supported in 2025

by Pathway Lending

485

1:1 counseling sessions

3,156

service members coached

47

boots to business & boots to business reboot events

client spotlight

Veteran entrepreneurs bring incredible dedication and vision to their businesses. Founder and CEO of Authentically American shares his success working with the Veteran's Business Outreach Center.

Take your first step today by registering with the VBOC and discover the resources, training, and advising available to help your business grow.

Explore SBA Programs

Check Your Funding Eligibility with Pathway

Resources

Tools to help you grow, or start, your Veteran-owned business.

Access to Capital

Already in business? Complete our Business Assessment to see if your business is positioned for funding.

Check My Eligibility

Library

Browse our catalog of documents and presentations to help you get started on your path to entrepreneurship.

View The Catalog

On-Demand Courses

Enroll in courses — tailored to Veteran entrepreneurs by Veteran entrepreneurs — to learn how to start your business or strengthen your existing business's foundation.

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Boots To Business

An overview of business ownership that is open to transitioning service members — including National Guard and Reserve.

Register

Boots To Business Reboot

An entrepreneurial training program designed for Veterans and their dependents that have transitioned back to civilian life.

Register

Upcoming Events

Explore events designed for Veterans, hosted by — Pathway Lending, the Small Business Administration, and various partner organizations focused on Veteran entrepreurial success.

See Events

Office hours

Questions? Head into our Fort Campbell office to talk to our team directly. Please note that office hours change based on course schedule. See below for our upcoming office hours.

Rob Corrigan

Director, VBOC at Pathway Lending

Jacque Collins

Business Advisor/Trainer, VBOC at Pathway Lending

Common questions

The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and mentoring, and referrals for eligible veterans owning or considering starting a small business. The SBA has 31 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC). VBOCs conduct entrepreneurial development workshops dealing specifically with the common pitfalls of entrepreneurship and how to best mitigate risk through the entrepreneurial process.

Tennessee and Kentucky residents who are:

U.S. military veterans

Active duty members

National Guard & reserves members

Military spouses

Survivors

qualify to receive technical assistance from the VBOC at Pathway Lending. The Office of Veterans Business Development’s mission is to maximize the availability, applicability and usability of all administration small business programs for Veterans and their spouses. Therefore, if you are in another state, please consult the list of VBOC locations to determine which regional office to contact.

No. The Veterans Business Outreach Center provides technical assistance at no cost.

The Veterans Business Outreach Centers were created by U.S. Congress to enable men and women who have served in the Armed Forces to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by owning and operating their own business. Funding for the VBOC at Pathway Lending is provided by the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD). The OVBD was established to help Veterans become full partners in the economic development through small business ownership.

The VBOC will analyze what stage of business you are in. Your stage of business will determine the type of coaching provided. Different stages require different assistance, but all point towards developing or revisiting a viable and realistic business plan. We have a network built in our entrepreneurial ecosystem and will connect you to the right resource for your stage, or we assist you with the technical aspects of your business plan.

No. The VBOC is not a lending institution and therefore, does not lend money to small businesses. A veteran will have to obtain financing through a bank, other financial institution, or other means. Financing options will be discussed during consulting. This will include Small Business Administration loan guarantees and microloans.

Pathway Lending is a Community Development Financial Institution that focuses our efforts on mission driven lending and entrepreneurial education. VBOC clients are encouraged to complete a business growth assessment to see if Pathway Lending is able to connect their business with funding.

Complete the Assessment

The U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) is the federal agency responsible for ensuring veterans, service members, and their families have access to SBA programs and resources to start, grow, and expand their businesses. Click the button below to see their programs and services created to assist aspiring and existing veteran entrepreneurs such as training, counseling and mentorship, and oversight of Federal procurement programs.

Learn More

Become a VBOC Member

The Veterans Business Outreach Center at Pathway Lending is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if at least two weeks in advance, call (615) 425-7171 to make arrangements.