Veteran-Owned Business Support

The Veterans Incubator for Better Entrepreneurship (VIBE) at the University of Washington Tacoma provides an applied training environment that supports military veterans’ entrepreneurial aspirations and promotes their understanding of the modern startup life cycle. Many of its program offerings are free and open to members of the public.

The Washington Small Business Development Center (WSBDC) is a network of business advisors, trainers, and support staff who operate from state universities and selected economic development agencies. Core services revolve around assisting clients with making better informed business decisions to grow and sustain their businesses. WSBDC provides in-depth, confidential, no cost, customized one-on one business advising, business training and advisor-assisted market intelligence.

If you’re searching for financial startup assistance in Tacoma-Pierce County, you’ve come to the right place. With multiple opportunities for state and local financial assistance, we’re here to help you find the plan that works best for you. Pierce County offers loan programs to businesses located in or expanding to Pierce County. These loans are made in partnership with bank financing and provide funding for permanent working capital, equipment acquisition, start-up costs and more. The City of Tacoma grant and loan program assists businesses in accessing capital through small business loans, microloans, historic rehabilitation & repair loans, fire safety loans and more. Whether it’s short- or long-term loans or crowdfunding, Washington state has several funding strategies to help businesses grow and expand.

The city of Lakewood is the proud home of Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), the largest Army-led joint base in the United States. About 8,500 skilled service members transition out of JBLM annually and stay in Greater Tacoma to start their own businesses. Meet a few of our region’s veteran-owned businesses: Wind Talker Innovations provides software-based data networking, turning cell phones into cell towers and aircrafts into satellites to securely connect people across the world. Namatad is a University of Washington Tacoma spinout that produces a real-time analytics device to keep first responders and military members safe in the line of duty. Ivy Data is a real estate tech startup that uses data to connect real estate professionals with potential homeowners across the nation.