WHEREAS, National Veterans Small Business Week recognizes the enduring contributions and future business and commerce opportunities of our veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, military spouses, and family members; and

WHEREAS, veterans are part of the vast fabric of small businesses that underpin the entrepreneurial spirit and grassroots efforts at the local and regional level to grow our economy and shape our communities; and

WHEREAS, veterans have a unique blend of leadership, experience, and drive, coupled with a deeply imbued sense of shared responsibility for the growth and vitality of their businesses within the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are over 7,500 veteran-owned small businesses in Virginia, which employ thousands and contribute to the economic growth and prosperity of our Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Virginia is home to over 818,000 small businesses, and veteran-owned businesses comprise more than 9% of those, employing thousands and contributing to the economic growth and prosperity of our Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Veteran’s programs such as the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program, Virginia’s Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) designation, Virginia She Served Business Builder Initiative (VS2B2), and partnerships at public institutions of higher education within Virginia provide continued access to entering the small business market and afford hard-working business owners with the ability to establish, grow, and sustain their dreams; and

WHEREAS, to date, small and medium-sized employers certified through the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program have collectively hired over 30,000 veterans and have successfully retained them by leveraging supportive resources such as the V3 Grant, which reinforces long-term employment and workforce development across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Virginia’s robust network of public and private sector resources creates a dynamic and collaborative environment that promotes entrepreneurship, drives innovation, and ensures the continued advancement of the Commonwealth’s economy;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize November 3–7, 2025, as NATIONAL VETERANS SMALL BUSINESS WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.