Recent Actions Signal Growth Opportunities for Veteran-Owned Businesses
Date: November 10, 2026
SBA doubles Veteran contracting goals as JPMorganChase continues its support of NVSBC and a new Small Business Professional Certification program.
Veteran-owned small businesses received significant news this week as two major announcements were made regarding expanded federal contracting opportunities and a dedicated training program to help Veteran entrepreneurs compete and grow.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it is doubling its federal contracting goals for Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) from 5% to 10%. At the same time, JPMorganChase announced $1.75 million in philanthropic support for Veteran and military spouse entrepreneurship, including its investment in the National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC) to advance a groundbreaking professional certification program.
Together, the announcements signal a growing commitment to Veteran entrepreneurship and federal contracting, creating new opportunities while reinforcing the importance of training, professional development, and strategic partnerships in helping Veteran-owned businesses succeed.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Veteran-owned small businesses and the entire federal contracting community,” said Scott Jensen, Chief Executive Officer of NVSBC. “The SBA’s announcement represents a commitment to expanding opportunities for Veteran entrepreneurs, while JPMorganChase’s investment recognizes the importance of preparing businesses to compete and succeed. We’re especially encouraged by the growing recognition of NVSBC’s work and the measurable impact we’re making through our training, partnerships, and business development initiatives.”
SBA Doubles Federal Contracting Goals for Veteran Businesses
In an announcement marking the beginning of National Veterans Small Business Week, the SBA established new fiscal year 2027 agency-level contracting goals that increase targets for Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses from 5% to a combined10% for both federal prime contracting and subcontracting opportunities.
The new goals are designed to encourage federal agencies to expand Veteran business participation in government procurement, recognizing the important contributions these businesses make to the nation’s economy, supply chains, and defense industrial base.
The announcement follows a strong fiscal year 2025, when the federal government exceeded its overall 5% SDVOSB contracting goal, awarding $32.5 billion in federal prime contracts to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.
While the new 10% targets are agency-level goals rather than guaranteed contract awards, they represent an important opportunity to expand Veteran participation in federal procurement. They do not replace the statutory government-wide SDVOSB contracting goal.
For Veteran entrepreneurs, the increased targets could translate into additional opportunities to pursue federal contracts, develop relationships with prime contractors, and expand their businesses. Achieving these goals will require continued collaboration among federal agencies, industry partners, and organizations like NVSBC that help Veteran businesses navigate the complexities of government contracting.
JPMorganChase Investment Recognizes NVSBC’s Growing Impact
In a separate announcement, JPMorganChase committed $1.75 million in philanthropic support to expand entrepreneurship resources for Veterans, military spouses, and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.
The investment supports two organizations playing important roles in the Veteran entrepreneurship ecosystem: Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and the National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC).
JPMorganChase’s support for NVSBC is helping advance the development of a first-of-its-kind certification program focused on small business government contracting, further strengthening NVSBC’s role as a national resource for professional development and business growth.
The announcement also recognized NVSBC’s previous work helping nearly 2,000 Veteran-Owned Small Businesses develop the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to participate in the federal marketplace.
The announcement was made during the kickoff of National Veterans Small Business Week in Washington, D.C., bringing together representatives from JPMorganChase, the SBA, IVMF, Veteran-owned businesses, and government and industry leaders.
For NVSBC, the investment highlights a valued strategic partnership and acknowledges the organization’s sustained impact on the federal contracting community.
Establishing a New Standard of Professional Excellence in Federal Contracting
As federal contracting opportunities expand, NVSBC is taking an important step toward strengthening the professional capabilities of those who lead, advise, and support small businesses in the government contracting marketplace.
With support from JPMorganChase, NVSBC has developed the Small Business Professional (SBP) Certification Program™, a new professional credential designed to establish a practitioner-validated standard of excellence for small business government contracting professionals.
The program integrates 25 critical functional areas into a comprehensive learning experience covering the full small business lifecycle, including business foundations, procurement readiness, federal contracting, strategic partnerships, compliance, contract performance, and long-term growth.
Developed through consultation with federal agencies, prime contractors, industry experts, and successful government contractors, the program addresses critical knowledge and competency gaps that can limit business competitiveness and growth.
Unlike traditional training programs focused on individual aspects of government contracting, the SBP Certification Program™ takes an integrated approach to professional development. Participants must demonstrate mastery of a comprehensive Body of Knowledge to earn the SBP™ credential, validating their understanding of the skills and practices essential to supporting small businesses in the federal marketplace.
“Expanding federal contracting opportunities presents significant opportunity, but realizing a small business’s full potential requires knowledgeable, capable professionals who understand how to navigate this complex marketplace,” Jensen said. “Our SBP Certification Program is designed to establish a new standard of professional excellence across the government contracting ecosystem. With JPMorganChase’s support, we’re helping build the expertise needed not only to compete for more opportunities, but to perform successfully, manage risk, and achieve sustainable business growth.”
The program is currently undergoing pilot testing, with public enrollment scheduled to begin in 2027. It is designed for small business owners and leaders, government contracting professionals, business advisors, supplier diversity specialists, and others who support small business success.
The SBP Certification Program™ complements NVSBC’s broader portfolio of training, networking, and business development initiatives, including its Supplier Readiness Fellowship, educational programs, regional events, and annual VETS national conference.
Together, these efforts help Veteran-Owned Small Businesses strengthen their competitive positioning, develop strategic relationships, and build the capabilities necessary for long-term success.
Turning Expanded Opportunity into Lasting Impact
The announcements from the SBA and JPMorganChase underscore a growing commitment across government and the private sector to strengthen Veteran entrepreneurship and expand participation in federal contracting.
They also highlight the increasingly important role of organizations such as NVSBC in connecting government priorities, corporate investment, and the practical needs of Veteran-owned businesses.
As a national advocate and resource for Veteran entrepreneurs, NVSBC works with federal agencies, prime contractors, corporate partners, and other organizations to advance procurement opportunities, professional development, and business growth.
With expanded federal contracting goals and new investment in professional education, NVSBC is well-positioned to help Veteran-owned businesses prepare for and pursue the growing opportunities ahead.