Serving Tampa Bay's business community since 2005
Discover membershipCommunity Initiative 11
Connect military-connected talent and veteran-owned businesses to entrepreneurship, contracts, capital, and local business networks.
Help build the Military Business Bridge ↗Veterans, transitioning service members, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military spouses bring valuable skills to Tampa Bay, but the pathways into business ownership, civilian networks, and new markets can be difficult to navigate.
Listen to military-connected entrepreneurs; complement existing regional efforts; convene business, transition, procurement, capital, and technical-assistance expertise; clarify trusted pathways; and elevate the perspective of Black veterans and military spouses in the regional economy.
Shared progress
Clearer pathways for Black veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses to launch, strengthen, certify, and connect their businesses.
A stronger military-connected workforce, a more capable veteran-owned supplier base, and better connections between service, ownership, and Tampa Bay commerce.
How the work may move
Map responsible next steps from military experience to business formation, acquisition, or independent professional practice.
Connect eligible participants to established training, mentoring, and peer networks without duplicating existing programs.
Clarify preparation for commercial, state, and federal markets without promising eligibility, certification, or contract awards.
Create respectful opportunities for veteran-owned firms, military spouses, employers, buyers, and business organizations to build useful relationships.
Participate now
Military-connected entrepreneurs, employers, buyers, and qualified resource organizations may express general interest in helping shape a complementary Tampa Bay pathway.
Express interest as a veteran, transitioning service member, Guard or Reserve member, or military spouse exploring business ownership.
Identify a broad entrepreneurship, workforce, or supplier-readiness barrier without sharing protected or sensitive information.
Express interest as a future employer, buyer, mentor, business organization, or technical-resource participant.
Trusted starting points
State information about certification, technical assistance, vendor visibility, and contracting resources for eligible veteran-owned businesses.
Visit resource ↗OFFICIAL RESOURCEState-supported training, mentoring, and resources for eligible military-connected entrepreneurs.
Visit resource ↗OFFICIAL RESOURCEOfficial information about VetCert and federal veteran-owned small-business contracting pathways.
Visit resource ↗