🎖️ VETBIZ UPDATEs & NEWS 🎖️

A new cannabis brand with Brooklyn roots is looking toward the Catskills. Silly Nice was founded in March 2024 and is described as Black-owned and veteran-owned at the company level. Its name brings a playful, easygoing feel to a business that operates in a highly regulated market. For shoppers traveling from Woodstock toward the region’s ski towns, the brand’s arrival offers a chance to discover a newer New York company—wherever local licensed retailers carry it. The Catskills are more than a scenic backdrop. Woodstock, mountain communities, and nearby year-round destinations draw residents, weekend visitors, outdoor enthusiasts, and hospitality workers. That mix can create opportunities for cannabis businesses, but it also calls for care: retail availability depends on licensed stores, local rules, and current inventory. A brand’s presence on a regional shelf can help connect its identity with a place, while retailers provide the local knowledge and compliance expertise that make ...

Global e·dentity™ Inc., a Delaware-registered Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), is calling for a congressional investigation into the Transportation Security Administration’s science and technology program. The company develops patented multimodal vascular technology, which uses patterns in the body as part of an identity-verification approach. The request puts two important subjects in the same conversation: how federal agencies evaluate emerging security tools, and whether smaller veteran-owned businesses have a fair chance to compete for government opportunities. A call for investigation is not proof of misconduct. It is a request for lawmakers to examine a program’s decisions, processes, or results. In this case, a review could help clarify how TSA identifies technology needs, assesses proposals, tests products, and communicates with potential suppliers. Those details matter to businesses trying to understand whether an agency’s priorities are clear and whe...

Veterans Day can be more than a date on the school calendar. With thoughtful activities and conversations, it becomes a chance for young people to learn about service, history and the many ways Veterans contribute to their communities. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Day National Committee have released the 2026 Veterans Day Teachers Resource Guide to help educators and community leaders make those lessons engaging and meaningful. This year’s guide arrives as the United States marks its 250th anniversary, giving teachers an opportunity to connect the nation’s history with the people who have served it. The focus is not just on looking back. It’s also about helping students consider citizenship, responsibility and how individuals can strengthen the places where they live. Start with the meaning of the day The guide helps explain why Veterans Day is observed on November 11 and how it honors Veterans from different generations and backgrounds. That distinctio...

When a veteran dies, families may be balancing grief with practical decisions, paperwork, and questions about what the service will involve. Military funeral honors can provide a meaningful, dignified farewell—and eligible families receive them at no cost. Knowing what is included and how to request honors can make a difficult week a little easier. There’s another group for whom this information can be especially useful: veteran entrepreneurs. Business owners often serve as informal community resources, employers, or trusted contacts for fellow veterans. Understanding the basics can help you support an employee, customer, colleague, or business partner without trying to take over the family’s decisions. Who can receive military funeral honors? Eligibility generally includes veterans who served on active duty and were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, current or former members of the Selected Reserve, and service members who die while on active duty. ...

A brief source note says “Shelton Bissell donated No” and includes the word “Army,” but it does not identify an organization, explain what “No” refers to, or provide any details about a donation. That distinction matters. Rather than guessing about a person’s actions, readers should treat the fragment as incomplete and seek a reliable record before drawing conclusions. For veteran entrepreneurs, this is a useful reminder: clear information is the foundation of trust, whether you are reviewing a public claim, building a business, or communicating with customers. Army experience can offer veterans practical strengths that transfer well into entrepreneurship. Service often involves working toward a shared objective, adapting when plans change, communicating across roles, and staying accountable for results. Those habits can help a business owner organize a team, serve clients consistently, and keep moving through uncertainty. But military experience is not a business plan by itself. Tu...

A simple tribute can carry a lot of meaning. David Sager’s donation, made in honor of Wayne Stewart and noting his Navy service, recognizes a connection between one person’s generosity and another person’s time in uniform. The available acknowledgment doesn’t identify the organization that received the gift or explain how it will be used, so it’s best not to assume its destination. Still, the gesture offers a useful chance to consider how community support can matter to veterans—including those building businesses after military service. For many veterans, entrepreneurship is a way to put hard-earned experience to work in a new setting. Planning, teamwork, accountability, and calm decision-making under pressure can all translate into business strengths. But launching a company also brings practical hurdles: finding startup capital, understanding regulations, building a customer base, and learning unfamiliar financial tools. A supportive network can help veterans navigate those steps...

A brief inscription can leave a lot unsaid. The available note names Lawrence John Strockis, places “Navy” beneath his name, and includes the words “Paula Strockis donated No.” It doesn’t explain his service, identify an organization, or clarify what the donation response refers to. Rather than fill those gaps with guesses, we can treat the fragment as a starting point for thinking about how military service, remembrance, and entrepreneurship connect. For veterans who build businesses, that connection is practical, not just symbolic. Military experience can develop habits that carry over into ownership: planning around limited resources, communicating under pressure, working across teams, and adjusting when circumstances change. Those strengths may help a founder manage a launch, guide employees through uncertainty, or keep a customer commitment when a supplier falls behind. They aren’t automatic guarantees of success, but they are useful tools when paired with sound business knowle...

A brief record names Joan Dohrer and lists “Army,” alongside a separate note that Beth Lane donated no. It does not explain the relationship between these details or provide a biography, so it would be wrong to fill in the gaps with assumptions. Still, the Army connection offers a useful starting point for considering how military experience can shape a path into business ownership—and what support veteran entrepreneurs may need. For many veterans, military service builds habits that transfer well to running a company: planning ahead, working within a team, adapting when conditions change, and staying focused on a mission. Those strengths can help with hiring, customer service, and day-to-day problem-solving. They do not replace business skills, however. Pricing, bookkeeping, marketing, and cash-flow management all take learning and practice, whether an owner served in the military or not. That distinction matters. People sometimes assume that every veteran has the same backgroun...

Black Friday can be a blur of countdown timers, discount codes and overflowing shopping carts. In 2026, the Veteran Business Community (VBC) campaign offers another way to approach the season: discover Australian veteran-owned businesses while looking for Christmas gifts, everyday favourites and seasonal offers. It’s a chance to shop thoughtfully, find something useful or memorable, and put your spending behind local entrepreneurs with military service in their backgrounds. For veteran business owners, the end-of-year shopping rush can make a real difference. Many small businesses rely on a handful of busy periods to bring in revenue, introduce their products to new customers and build momentum for the year ahead. A campaign that helps shoppers find veteran-owned brands can make those businesses easier to discover at exactly the time people are ready to buy. Even one first-time purchase may lead to a review, a recommendation or a loyal customer. That visibility matters because ru...

A short inscription can carry a lot of meaning: Thomas Saladino donated in memory of Tommy. It doesn’t tell us what organization received the gift or what Tommy’s story was, so it’s best not to guess. But it does point to a generous way of honoring someone: turning remembrance into support for work that matters. When a memorial gift reaches an organization serving veteran entrepreneurs, that generosity can help create practical opportunities long after the tribute is made. Veterans often bring valuable strengths to business ownership, including leadership, adaptability, planning, and experience working through uncertainty. Yet starting or growing a company can involve unfamiliar hurdles. A former service member may need help translating military experience into a business plan, finding early customers, understanding financing, or building a professional network outside the military community. The right support can make those steps less daunting. That support may come through entrep...

Elmer Davis made a donation in honor of all disabled U.S. veterans—a gesture that recognizes the service, resilience, and contributions of people whose lives have been changed by military service. The tribute is brief, but its message reaches beyond a single gift: veterans deserve lasting respect and practical support as they build fulfilling lives after service. For many, that next chapter includes starting or growing a business. Veteran entrepreneurs bring valuable experience to the business world. Military service can develop skills in leadership, logistics, teamwork, planning, and decision-making under pressure. Those strengths can translate into running a company, managing staff, serving customers, and adapting when plans change. Disabled veterans may also draw on hard-won problem-solving skills as they navigate new routines, treatment, or accessibility needs. Their abilities and ambitions are individual, and disability does not define what a person can contribute. At the same...

George B. Mason, a World War II veteran of the 9th Infantry Division and a familiar face at Veterans Breakfast Club gatherings in Beaver County, died on October 25, 2026. He was 102. His passing marks the loss of a remarkable generation, but the stories he shared—and the lessons people can carry from them—remain part of his legacy. At recent breakfasts, Mason spoke about the war with fellow veterans and community members. One story stood out: he was certain he would never make it home. That memory offers a glimpse of the fear and uncertainty servicemembers endured, and of the long journey many carried after returning to civilian life. Listening to veterans tell their own stories helps keep history human, connecting broad events to individual hopes, losses, and choices. Mason’s account also has meaning for veteran entrepreneurs. Starting a business is not combat, and it would be wrong to equate the risks of entrepreneurship with the dangers of war. Still, veterans may recognize fami...

A simple memorial can carry a powerful message. The tribute to Micheal Zanders, identified with the Army and remembered through a gift made by Terry Britt, connects personal remembrance with a broader tradition of service. It does not tell us the details of Zanders’s life or the purpose of the donation, and those details should not be assumed. Still, the gesture invites reflection on how military values can continue to shape communities and businesses. For many veterans, entrepreneurship offers a way to apply hard-earned skills to a new mission. Military experience can build habits that matter in business: planning under pressure, communicating clearly, adapting when circumstances change, and taking responsibility for a team. These strengths are not an automatic guarantee of success, but they give veteran founders a useful foundation as they turn an idea into a service, product, or local employer. Leadership is one of the most transferable abilities. In the armed forces, people often...

Few traditions make an event feel as momentous as the boom of a ceremonial salute. But the phrase “21-gun salute” is often used for a different military tradition: the rifle volleys at a service member’s funeral. The distinction matters—not just for history buffs, but for anyone attending a ceremony, telling a veteran’s story, or building a business that serves military communities. What Is a 21-Gun Salute? A true 21-gun salute is an artillery ceremony: 21 rounds are fired to honor a head of state, a national flag, or a significant national occasion. In the United States, recipients include the President, former Presidents, the President-elect, foreign heads of state, and members of reigning royal families. The salute is also used on occasions such as Independence Day and Washington’s Birthday. It’s an honor reserved for the highest levels of national and diplomatic recognition. The U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, maintains the Presidential Salute Batter...

A potential contract worth more than $20 million is drawing attention across the federal contracting community. The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) is preparing to compete requirements, engineering, and acquisition support work. For service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs), this could be a timely opportunity to explore how their expertise fits into a complex federal mission—and how to prepare before a solicitation arrives. DHS S&T helps develop and evaluate technologies intended to strengthen homeland security. Supporting that work can involve far more than technical design. Agencies need help defining requirements, assessing solutions, managing acquisitions, and keeping programs aligned with mission needs. The contract’s title signals a broad support role, but it does not tell us the final scope, award structure, or eligibility rules. Interested businesses should wait for official procurement documents and tre...

A new federal push is putting psychedelic-assisted therapy closer to the center of discussions about veterans’ mental health. Former President Donald Trump says his executive order is meant to speed research and regulatory review of substances including ibogaine, psilocybin, and MDMA. The stated goal is to explore options for veterans with conditions such as PTSD, depression, or traumatic brain injuries, especially when established treatments have not helped. The proposal includes $50 million in federal support for research into ibogaine and related substances. Trump has also pointed to a University of Miami transfer of an original 1994 investigational drug application for ibogaine, describing the records as a way to help move development forward. Such documents may inform regulatory work, but they do not establish that a drug is safe, effective, or ready for broad use. Those questions require careful study and review. Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins has emphasized the need...

An Army job can shape more than your military career. The skills you build may also become the foundation for a business after service. This guide organizes selected enlisted Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) by career field and highlights how that experience can help veterans explore entrepreneurship. An MOS is the Army’s code and title for a particular job. It points to a soldier’s training, duties, and career area. The Army groups related specialties into career management fields, making it easier to understand how different roles fit into the larger force. This list is a representative selection, not a complete or definitive index; job availability, names, and codes can change. Combat and operational fields: Infantry includes 11B Infantryman and 11C Indirect Fire Infantryman. Armor includes 19D Cavalry Scout and 19K Armor Crewmember. Field Artillery specialties include 13B Cannon Crewmember, 13F Fire Support Specialist, and 13M MLRS/HIMARS Crewmember. Air and Missile De...

The Department of Transportation’s $10 million Content Creation and Media Services Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) puts a spotlight on iostudio, a designated woman-owned small business and service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB). The company helps clients connect with audiences through content and media services. The award is notable for iostudio, but it also offers a useful look at how federal contracting can create opportunities for veteran entrepreneurs—and why a contract’s headline value needs context. A BPA is a purchasing arrangement that lets a government agency order services as needs arise, often through individual orders. The $10 million figure represents the agreement’s potential ceiling, not a promise that the full amount will be spent or paid to one company. Actual revenue depends on agency demand, orders issued, competition rules, and performance. For small businesses, understanding that distinction is essential when assessing an opportunity, planning c...

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division has awarded Athena Technology Group (ATG), a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, a $23.5 million task for Information Systems Security Engineering support. The award puts a veteran-owned contractor in a demanding corner of federal technology: helping ensure that information systems are designed, maintained, and operated with security in mind. Information Systems Security Engineering, often shortened to ISSE, connects cybersecurity requirements with the systems people actually build and use. Depending on the work, that can involve identifying risks, documenting security controls, supporting assessments, and helping teams address vulnerabilities throughout a system’s lifecycle. The announcement does not spell out every task detail, so the award should not be read as a description of ATG’s exact day-to-day duties. It does, however, show the Navy is buying specialized security expertise. For veteran entrepreneurs, the head...

Choosing home care is a personal decision. Families want dependable help, but they also want a caregiver who sees the person behind the schedule and the checklist. Family Private Care Services, based in Roswell, Georgia, builds its approach around that kind of relationship: serving older adults across North Fulton and treating every client like family. Led by CEO and Owner Tony Plummer, the veteran-owned company continues its award-winning home care work in the community. For local families, that means support designed to help older adults remain comfortable in familiar surroundings while giving relatives another set of caring hands. Home care can cover everyday needs that become more challenging with age, from companionship and help with routines to practical assistance around the home. The right support is shaped by the individual, not by a one-size-fits-all assumption. A family may need a little help each week, while another may be looking for more regular assistance. Talking ope...