Veterans Entrepreneurship Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]
Introduced
Summary
A temporary SBA pilot to give grants that help eligible veterans start or buy businesses. The proposal would pair required entrepreneurship training with milestone-based grant payments and test whether this model should become a permanent program.
Show full summary
- Veterans: Eligible veterans who meet service and education-assistance rules would be able to apply for grants after completing approved training and an approved business plan. The pilot would award up to 250 grants over a 3-year period and ties grant amounts to months of VA education benefits and a monthly assistance component.
- Small businesses and communities: Grants could be used to start or acquire qualifying business enterprises, including franchises and startups, and the Administrator must promote geographic and demographic diversity among awardees.
- Program administration and oversight: The Small Business Administration would run the pilot with an advisory committee and the Department of Veterans Affairs, require milestone-based disbursements and training completion, and must report to Congress within 2 years on feasibility and recommendations.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
How much veterans could get
If enacted, each veteran's maximum award would be the sum of three parts. One part is a program maximum set by law or SBA rule and, for chapter 33 veterans, uses a pro rata monthly rate tied to those education benefits. A second part is monthly additional assistance equal to your months of educational assistance times a VA rate; that monthly amount would be multiplied by 1.0 if your only employment is the new business, or 0.5 if you have other employment. A third part is any training assistance the SBA pays.
New SBA pilot for veteran businesses
If enacted, this bill would create a new SBA pilot to help veterans start or buy businesses. The SBA would have to start the pilot within 90 days and run it for 3 years. The pilot would be able to award up to 250 grants. The SBA would be required to promote geographic diversity and list qualifying business types, including small businesses and franchise enterprises.
Applying, training, and payment rules for veterans
If enacted, you would need to apply on an SBA form and file not later than one year before the pilot ends. You would have to complete approved entrepreneurship training and get an approved business plan before any grant disbursement. Payments would be made in pro rata installments at least every 3 months and at most every 12 months, and each installment would depend on hitting milestones in your plan. The grant money could be used to start or buy a qualifying business, buy goods or services, fund certain economic development projects, or acquire an existing qualifying enterprise. The SBA would let groups of veterans apply as a single applicant and treat the group as one eligible veteran for award sizing.
Who qualifies for veteran grants
If enacted, the bill would define who is an eligible veteran for the pilot. To qualify, you would need to be a veteran (or retiring/separating with a service-approved packet) or have been last honorably discharged. You would also need at least 36 months of active duty (24 months if discharged for a service-connected disability) and be entitled to chapter 30 or chapter 33 education benefits. The bill would also define advisors, qualifying business enterprises, and franchise rules for program use.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]
VA • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov