New veterans business outreach center debuts at New Kensington's Corner LaunchBox

Penn State New Kensington’s Corner LaunchBox has started a new business outreach service for veterans.

The Veterans Business Outreach Center, at the Corner LaunchBox in downtown New Kensington, was established through an agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, said Joanna Sutton, director of the Corner LaunchBox.

The effort aims to make entrepreneurial resources more accessible to veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard members, reservists and military spouses in communities across the state, according to Penn State New Kensington.

The Veterans Business Outreach Center is headquartered at Penn State’s main campus in State College and has regional centers at New Kensington’s Corner LaunchBox and in the Lehigh Valley, Sutton said.

“This statewide structure is designed to ensure that veteran entrepreneurs, service members and military spouses across Pennsylvania have greater access to no-cost training, mentoring and support services to successfully start and grow their businesses,” she said.

Veterans can sign up at vboc.psu.edu.

“Our mission at Corner LaunchBox has always been about breaking down barriers for aspiring business owners, and the VBOC expands that reach in an exciting way,” Sutton said. “Through this initiative, I’m able to provide training and one-on-one mentoring for veterans and military-connected entrepreneurs while also connecting them to a statewide network of innovation resources.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to support those who have served our country as they take on the challenge of entrepreneurship.”