Members of Connecticut's congressional delegation joined Secretary of the State Denise Merrill and officials from the Department of Commerce to announce plans to help veterans who own businesses in Connecticut.
"We need to find these veterans and help them," said Anne Evans with the Department of Commerce.
The state has counted at least 250 veteran owned-and-operated businesses in Connecticut, well short of the number state officials estimate is actually out there.
"We think the number could be well into the thousands," Evans explained.
Part of the plan is to connect veterans with the kinds of loans and small business assistance for which they're eligible.
Officials with the Small Business Administration said they doled out $11 million in loan help to companies owned and run by veterans last year alone. They're looking to increase that figure.
"It’s the least we can do with our office to help veterans, trying to succeed in business with special services just for them so these services will be tailor-made to veteran owned businesses,” Secretary of the State Denise Merrill told the crowd.
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U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said just the knowledge of whether a business is owned by someone who served is a big deal for consumers, not just loans.
"We no longer live in a world where if you build it they will come," Blumenthal said. "People have to be informed and brought into participation."
