Honoring Veteran-Owned, American Made Small Businesses – NVSBW 2026

Celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week with a morning built for veteran entrepreneurs.

National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) is an annual celebration hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and its partner network to honor and empower veteran, service member, National Guard, Reserve, and military spouse entrepreneurs. This year marks the 13th annual NVSBW, under the theme "Honoring Veteran-Owned, American Made."

Join the Illinois SBDC-ITC at The Joseph Center, the SBA, the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), and the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity for a no-cost, in-person event packed with practical training, a real-world success story, and direct access to lenders and support organizations.

What you'll get:

• An inspiring keynote from a veteran business owner on getting started, staying resourceful, and using lenders and SBA programs to grow
• Focused sessions on AI for business planning, government contracting, and access to capital
• Live Q&A with presenters
• Introductions from local veteran service organizations
• Resource tables with lenders, veteran organizations, and business support partners
• Time to network with fellow veteran entrepreneurs

Who should attend:

• Veteran business owners
• Veterans exploring entrepreneurship
• Transitioning service members
• Military spouses and family members
• Business support organizations
• Any small business looking for support and resources

Open to the public. No cost to attend. Registration required.

Event venue & nearby stays

7600 Roosevelt Rd, 7600 Roosevelt Road, Forest Park, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

Get the app →

Discover more events by tag