Last verified: October 14, 2026.
Five veteran- and military-spouse-owned businesses will win cash from one program closing Tuesday, December 15, 2026. The SBA does not give veterans cash grants to start or grow a business. What it offers is free counseling, contracting certifications and access to SBA-backed loans. Real veteran grants are private, small and competitive.
Grants are only one option. See every way to fund your business.
See the small business grants hub and how to apply for a small business grant.
Why SBA help for veterans is not cash
The SBA says it does not provide grants for starting or expanding a business. For veterans it offers:
- Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs), with business plan workshops, concept assessments, mentorship and training for eligible service members, veterans, and National Guard and Reserve members.
- VetCert. Certified veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) can compete for federal contracts, and certified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) can compete for set-aside and sole-source contracts.
- The same resources for military spouses as for veteran owners, per the SBA.
Start at SBA.gov/veterans.
Certification opens doors to contracts. It does not deposit cash.
Programs open now, verified today
Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant Program
- Amount: five one-time grants. Four businesses get $10,000 and one gets $25,000.
- Who qualifies: a for-profit business at least 51% owned by a veteran or military spouse, with 3 to 20 employees (owners, part-timers and 1099 contractors count), under $5 million in revenue, in the contiguous 48 states, Alaska or Hawaii. It must be in an economically vulnerable community or show hardship beyond the owner's control.
- Deadline: applications must be submitted by Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
- Official page: https://www.hiringourheroes.org/small-business-grant/
VETCON Business Plan Competition
- Amount: $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second and $1,000 for third.
- Who qualifies: aspiring or recently formed veteran businesses, pre-startup or three years old or less. At least one presenting team member must be a veteran, and veteran ownership must be real and in control of daily decisions. You must present at VETCON 2026.
- Deadline: email your entry by Friday, November 20, 2026.
- Official page: https://www.vetconny.com/business-plan-competition/
Skip $10,000 Growth Grant
- Amount: one $10,000 grant.
- Who qualifies: open to all U.S.-based entrepreneurs and small business owners age 18 or older, so veterans can apply too.
- Deadline: apply by Thursday, December 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
- Official page: https://helloskip.com/funding-details/10k-grants-fall-2026
Tips: free help near you
Find a VBOC, SBDC or SCORE mentor with the SBA local assistance locator. The SBA veteran-owned business guide is here.
How to build a veteran grant packet
- Keep your DD Form 214 ready. VETCON asks for discharge papers.
- Write a four-page executive summary: pitch, team, market, growth and money.
- Count every worker the way each program defines them.
- Note each deadline and time zone.
Here's a hypothetical.
Here's a hypothetical. Marcus, an Army veteran, runs Ridgeline Mobile Welding (a made-up business) with four employees, counting himself and a part-timer. He applies to Hiring Our Heroes with a note on the hardship a lost contract caused. Because his business is two years old, he also emails a VETCON entry. Then he books a session at his nearest VBOC.
Scam red flags
- Grants.gov says applying for a federal grant is completely free.
- Nobody legitimate asks for a fee to release a grant you won.
- The SBA only emails from addresses ending in @SBA.gov.
- Report it at reportfraud.FTC.gov. See Grants.gov on grant fraud and our grant fee scams guide.
Next steps if no grant fits
See small business grants open now, then compare every way to fund your business.
Sources
- SBA, Veterans: https://www.sba.gov/veterans/
- SBA, Veteran-owned businesses: https://www.sba.gov/counseling/grow-your-business/#veteran-owned
- SBA, Local assistance: https://www.sba.gov/counseling/local-assistance/
- SBA, Grants: https://www.sba.gov/loans/additional-funding-opportunities/grants/
- Grants.gov, Grant fraud: https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-fraud
- FTC: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
- Program pages listed above, each checked October 14, 2026.