Veterans Center to Host Entrepreneur Workshop

Written by Jack Meltzer

Willimantic, Conn. - Robert Polito, president and director of Government Guaranteed Lending at Webster Bank, will be the featured speaker in the entrepreneur seminar at Eastern Connecticut State University on Oct. 8.   The workshop will run from 5 to 7 p.m. in Room 115 of the Student Center.  The public is invited and admission is free.

Polito will discuss the new Patriot Express Small Business Administration (SBA) Guaranteed Loan Program for veterans and other military community members who want to start their own business. 

The Veterans Education and Transition Services (VETS) Center at Eastern Connecticut State University and the New Britain based Small Business Development Center partnered with Webster Bank to teach veterans and military families what it takes to qualify for the SBA Patriot Express Loan Guarantee Program.

The program is a federal program specializing in assisting veterans and their spouses with the information about steps needed to procure loans to start up or sustain a business.  The program has proved to be one of the best outlets for a veteran to raise enough funds for their businesses.

 Starting Sept. 21, VETS began a two-week workshop series to educate veterans, their families and other military community members who want to start or expand a small business.  Topics included tutorials on learning how to start your business in Connecticut and how to write a precise business plan. Participants who attended all five workshops will be awarded a certification of completion.