Ernst Applauds Veteran Small Business Owners

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran, is celebrating National Veterans Small Business Week by recognizing the invaluable contributions these brave men and women made serving our country, as well as the impact their entrepreneurship has on Iowa communities.

A report by the Small Business Administration (SBA) found that veterans own 16,273 small businesses in Iowa.

"Veterans represent our nation's best, and they should have access to every opportunity to pursue the American Dream of starting a business," said Ernst, the top Republican on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. "As servicemembers transition to civilian life, they bring with them a wealth of knowledge and skillsets, and I'm working to ensure the resources needed to succeed in the business world are available to them. During their service, they embodied the American spirit by protecting our freedoms, and now as small business owners, they shape the culture of our towns and communities. Join me in honoring these fantastic men and women during National Veterans Small Business Week!"

"Celebrating National Veterans Small Business Week is one of the many ways our government and its leaders support both small business owners and veterans, two integral groups in our society. I'm thankful to be a part of both of those groups. Serving as an Army logistician, both in the United States and in combat overseas, was incredibly rewarding. My service prepared me more than I could have known to run a small distribution business in eastern Iowa. I am incredibly grateful to have fought for a country where the freedom to start and grow your own business is valued. Thank you very much to Senator Ernst, her staff, and the Senate Small Business Committee for working to support veteran small business owners across our great nation," said Jennie Wunderlich, co-owner of PSC Distribution in Iowa City.

"As a small veteran-owned business in Iowa with a mission of supporting those who serve, we appreciate the support from those who are in a position to support the small businesses. As the ranking member of the Senate Small Business Committee, Senator Ernst has earned our respect for her work to assist the small businesses across Iowa and our great nation," said Ron Slagle, Co-Founder of Honor And Respect LLC.

Background:

Senator Ernst has worked tirelessly to ensure veterans have access to the resources they need to succeed in the business world.

She has fought to increase the effectiveness of the SBA veterans' business development programs to better tackle the challenges faced by veteran entrepreneurs.

Last year, Senator Ernst's Stop Stolen Valor for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Contractors Act, which reduces fraud and stolen valor in federal contracting, was signed into law.

She has urged the SBA to do more to provide veterans, reservists, and their spouses financial literacy courses and increase their access to capital.

Senator Ernst's bipartisan VET Act reauthorizes the SBA's Boots to Business program and helps America's servicemembers succeed in small business after their time in the military.

Earlier this year, she hosted her annual Entrepreneur Expo in Ames to help veteran entrepreneurs learn about federal, state, and local government contracting opportunities and federal innovation programs.

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