4/28 Missoula Career Fair & 6/4 H@H BBQ & Music Festival

Good afternoon, MONTANA Veteran Network ~

Attached ~ Missoula Job Service Career Fair / ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve)

Registration will begin FEBRUARY 16^th at employmissoula.com (ONLINE REGISTRATION). That’s also when you’ll be able to view sponsorship information, table cost, etc. ($125 per table until 4/15). Questions (AFTER 2/16) should be directed to Kristi 542-5750 and Wolf / Sponsorships: 542-5777

(If you’re a Veteran Service Provider who is NOT hiring or training, please let me know if you want a small table in the lobby behind me and ESGR).

Attached ~ 3^RD ANNUAL Heroes @ Home BBQ & Music Festival

Please join us and share with Veterans, service members, their families and EVERYONE who supports them! If you would like to volunteer, donate or get involved in ANY way, please let us know. THE EXTRAORDINAIRY JCF EVENTS COMMITTEE CHAIR, ERIN HELM, IS AT TRAINING UNTIL MARCH (The reason for this “DRAFT” flyer ;), so JCF Leadership will be handling things until then:

BBQ LOGISTICS & QUESTIONS - Brian (brian.becker3@va.gov), DONATIONS / $$, SPONSORS - John (johnsangwin@hotmail.com)

VENDORS, VOLUNTEERS - Roy (rsavage@montana.com), Veteran Service Providers - Shannon (snoble@mt.gov)

This year’s BBQ is in honor of Kay Collins ~ PLEASE JOIN THE JCF FACEBOOK EVENT FOR UPDATES: https://www.facebook.com/events/1702903223254884/      THANK YOU ~ YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED!!!

Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC) - See attached Missoula Job Service websites, Veteran Resources pages 4 and 5

VBOC has been added to page 4 under Business Opportunities (http://www.bigskyeconomicdevelopment.org/small-business/vboc/):

John and Sara were speakers during the 1/7/16 Career Mini-Summit in Helena - here is some additional information from sba.gov/mt regarding the partnership between the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Big Sky Economic Development.

·        SBA Resource Partner Network – Entrepreneurial development services (business training, counseling, mentoring, referrals, pre-business plan workshops, concept assessments, business plan preparation, comprehensive feasibility analysis, entrepreneurial training, one-on-one counseling, and other business-development related services). VBOCs also provide assistance and training in international trade, franchising, Internet marketing, accounting, etc.

·        There are 15 VBOCS nationwide (Missoula office coming “soon”). Boots to Business is an entrepreneurial education program offered as an elective track within the DoD TAP. Open to Veterans, service members (including members of the National Guard and Reserves) and their spouses (Boots to Business http://boots2business.org/)

·        Contacts: Sara Hudson, VBOC Interim Director, Veterans Business Outreach Center, Big Sky Economic Development, 222 N. 32^nd St., Billings, 406-254-6014, sara@bigskyeda.org and John Donovan – Economic Development Specialist, US Small Business Administration, Montana District Office, 10 West 15^th St., Suite 1100, Helena, MT 59626, 406-441-1087, john.donovan@sba.gov

Have a great day! J

Shannon Noble ~  Disabled Veterans Outreach Program / DVOP, Missoula Job Service ~ employmissoula.com