Veteran Resources

There are plenty of programs and benefits available to aid our veterans in their personal and business lives and we at Fargo INC! think they deserve to know what they are. That’s why we put together a veterans resource guide.

SHRM Veterans at Work certificate

shrm.org/foundation/about/pages/ veterans-at-work-certificateprogram.aspx

The SHRM Foundation's Veterans at Work Certificate, developed for HR professionals, hiring managers and front-line supervisors, is a multi-faceted program from the SHRM Foundation. Through this certificate program, you will:

• Learn the value that skilled veterans bring to the civilian workplace.

• Demonstrate your commitment to attract, hire and retain these talented professionals • Earn 10 professional development credits toward your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification.

Vet Centers are the people in VA who welcome home war veterans with honor by providing quality readjustment counseling in a caring manner. Vet Centers understand and appreciate Veterans’ war experiences while assisting them and their family members toward a successful post-war adjustment in or near their community.

• Individuals and group counseling for Veterans and their families. • Family counseling for militaryrelated issues. • Bereavement counseling for families who experience an active duty death. • Military sexual trauma counseling and referral. • Outreach and education, including PDHRA, community events, etc.. • Substance abuse assessment and referral. • Employment assessment and referral. • VBA benefits explanation and referral. • Screening and referral for medical issues, including TBI, depression, etc.

Military Affairs

fmwfchamber.com/millitary- affairs

The Chamber's Military Affairs committee is on a mission to foster a community of support for the men and women of our military and the missions they carry out on our behalf. To recognize these courageous individuals, the committee will plan activities to raise awareness in the community for the work that they do and provide opportunities for the community to thank them for their outstanding accomplishments.

acp-usa.org

ACP’s free Mentoring Program connects post-9/11 veterans (Protégés) with corporate professionals (Mentors) for customized mentorships. ACP assists veterans on their path towards fulfilling, long-term careers, whether the veteran is job searching or newly employed.

Typical mentorship goals include:

• Resume review and interview preparation • Career exploration and understanding job opportunities • Career advancement once a position is obtained • Work-life balance • Networking • Small business development • Leadership and professional communication

The FM Area Foundation has a Clay/Cass Veterans Assistance Fund that was created in 2009 to provide emergency assistance to veterans. The fund was created by the Clay County Veteran’s Service Office who saw a need. Donations to the fund come from veterans groups,

individual veterans, businesses and community members. The fund assists veterans in our community who have fallen on very difficult times. It helps fill a gap before federal or state assistance is available. The donations are often used to help pay bills, purchase visa gift cards and provide other immediate needs for veterans in our region.

NaVOBA is an independent nonprofit organization governed and led by Corporate America. NaVOBA’s mission is to create corporate contracting opportunities for America’s Veteran’s and Service- Disabled Veteran’s Business Enterprises (VBEs/SDVBEs) through certification, advocacy, outreach, recognition and education.

dodskillbridge.usalearning. gov

The DoD SkillBridge program is an opportunity for service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships or internships during the last 180 days of service.

ndsu.edu/vet

Available to honorably discharged North Dakota veterans, VET is a free program of study funded by the state of North Dakota to prepare you for a certification program, two-year or four-year college degree. The program provides refresher training, as well as training in English, computers, math and study skills.

bradyoberglegacyfoundation. org

The Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation was founded in 2015 to honor the legacy of Brady Oberg, an Army veteran who lost his life to suicide as a result of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Foundation was founded to raise awareness for combat PTSD and create a community of veterans who get together and support each other. The foundation helps to organize various events for veterans to get together and do what they love, like going to fitness classes, hunting expeditions, participating in a motorcycle ride events and embarking on their annual Brady's Border 2 Border Ruck March. Thanks to donations, every single event that they put on is free to veterans.

ndsu.edu/vet

The Veteran Owned Business Project is a comprehensive, user-friendly member network directory of small, medium and large businesses owned by veterans, service-disabled veterans (SDVOSBs / DVBEs) active duty military, reservists and military spouses released on Veteran's Day 2008. Here you can also find a number of great resources for starting a veteranowned business.

und.edu/dakotasvboc/ resources.html

Veterans, Service Members and Millitary Spouses • Bunker Labs - Bunker in a Box • Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP)

• Military Spouse

Resource Partners

• U.S. Small Business Development Association • Office of Veterans Business Development • SCORE - Service Corps of Retired Executives • Women's Business Centers • Small Business Development Centers • National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC) • U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Hiring Heroes

nd.gov/veterans/benefits- services

The NDOVA’s mission is to assist veterans of North Dakota and their dependents in obtaining all benefits to which they are entitled, both federal and state, either by direct contact or through the assistance of County Veterans Service Officers, Tribal Veterans Service Officers or Nation Service Officers.

Here, you will find:

Healthcare

• Behavioral & Mental Health • Commissioners Challenge On Suicide Prevention • Dental • Dreams for Veterans • Hardship Assistance Grant • Health Insurance • ND Veterans Home Optical • US Army Soldier For Life • VA Beneficiary Travel (Travel Pay) • Wounded Warrior/Disabled Veteran Resources Financial • Compensation and Pension • Consumer Financial Protection Burea • Disabled American Veteran License Plates • Dreams for Veterans • Financial Wellness • Food Assistance • Gold Star License Plates • Hardship Assistance Grant • Home Loan Guaranty • Life Insurance

• Loan Programs • North Dakota Association for the Disabled • North Dakota National Guard Foundation • Social Security • Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program • Survivor and Military Assistance Programs • Tax Information • USDA Rural Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants

• Veterans Bonus • VFW Unmet Needs

Employment

• Disabled Veterans Outreach Program • Entrepreneurship • Experience North Dakota • Job Announcements • Job Seeking Resources

• Job Service North Dakota • Local Veterans Employment • Representative Program On-the-Job and Apprenticeship Programs • Unemployment Statistics US Army Soldier For Life • Veterans Preference (Federal) • Veterans Preference (State) • Vocation Rehabilitation & Employment Service Education & Training • Campus Vet Centers • GI Bill Information • ND College and University Certifying Officials • ND Dependent Tuition Waiver • No-College Degree Schools • On-the-Job and Apprenticeship Programs • Other Education Resources

• PTSD Awareness Training • Spouse and Dependent Education and Scholarships • State Approving Agency Student Complain Inquiry • US Army Soldier For Life • Veteran Scholarships • Veteran’s Educational Training • Veteran/Service Member Resident Status • Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service

nd.gov/veterans/benefits/ entrepreneurship

• North Dakota Small Business Administration

• Business Financing • Veteran Business Ideas • Veterans Business Outreach Center • Business Development • Office of Veterans Business Development • Small Business Development Centers

• Government Contracts • Procurement Technical Assistance Center • The VA Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization • Vets First Verification Program • Entrepreneurship Training • Boots to Business and Boots to Business Reboot • Riata Center for Entrepreneurship • University of Florida Entrepreneurship • Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans With Disabilities • Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

Suicide Prevention Veterans CrisisLine veteranscrisisline.net

The Veterans CrisisLine is a free, confidential and available 24/7 service for Veterans in crisis and people concerned about them. Connect with the Veterans Crisis Line to reach caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many of them are Veterans themselves. Call 1-800-273-8255, text 838255, or chat with them on their website

myfirstlink.org

FirstLink is a free, confidential service available to anyone 24/7/365 for listening and support, referrals to resources/ help, and crisis intervention. FirstLink answers the 211 helpline, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and communicates via the text line 898-211. FirstLink provides these services across the entire state of North Dakota and parts of Minnesota. Dial 2-1-1 or text your zipcode to 898-211 from anywhere in their service area for confidential help and support.

Hopeline: 1-800-622-2255, follow prompts to get to the National Treatment Referral Service

SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 Drug Abuse Hotline: 1-877-659-0561 VA Healthcare/Substance Abuse Treatment Program: Fargo 701-239-3700 Recovery Talk: Peer Support 24/7: 1-844-44TALK2 or 1-844-448-2552

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 DoD Safeline: 1-877-995-5247, text 55247, or chat online at www.safehelpline.org CAWS North Dakota: 701-2556240 NDNG Helpline: 701-425-4821

National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or chat online at www.thehotline.org National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453, Press “1” CAWS North Dakota: 701-2556240

Military OneSource: 1-800342-9647 Vets4Warriors: 1-855-8388255 Vet Center: Bismarck 701-2249751, Minot 701-852-0177, Fargo 701-237-0942, Grand Forks 701-620-1448 National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1-877-4243838 or va.gov/homeless

The Village: Bismarck 1-800627-8220, Devil’s Lake 701-6626776, Fargo 701-293-3384, Grand Forks 701-746-4584, Minot 701-852-3328 Military Service Center: 1-800242-4940 Burleigh County: 701-222-6622 West Central Human Services Center: 701-328-8899 Aging Services 60+: 701-3284601

Health Care for Homeless Veterans: 701-239-3700, Ext. 3472 Mental Health: 701-239-3700, Ext 3150 Veterans Justice Outreach: 701232-3241, Ext. 4568 Substance Abuse: 701-2393700, Ext. 9-3436 Supported Employment for Veterans: 701-239-3700, Ext. 9-4325

Job Service ND 701-239-7358

Cass: 701-476-4145 Clay: 218-299-5041

701-476-4145 1519 1st Ave S, Fargo

While there are many resources out there for veterans, perhaps the one that is best equipped to help inspiring entrepreneurs is the Veterans Business Outreach of the Dakotas, an organization dedicated to helping service members, veterans and military spouses looking to start, purchase or grow a business in North Dakota and South Dakota.

Klug is the Veterans Business Outreach Center Director which serves both North Dakota and South Dakota. She provides entrepreneurial focused training workshops both on and off installations that teach key concepts for starting, running, and operating a small business. Wendy also provides no-cost advising, webinars, and subject specific workshops tailored around a community or client’s interests and needs. She specializes in creating workshops and events that are interesting, upbeat, and filled with vital information. Wendy has a creative knack that allows her to assist with marketing, social media, and other business aspects that involve creative thinking. She brings 15 plus years of teaching, over 10 years of small business ownership, and more than

5 years of small business consulting to this program. Klug holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of North Dakota.

“Getting to serve those that have served our country. Working with military members of all eras is rewarding. These are some of the most driven entrepreneurs out there and their dedication to make it happen is like no other! Their success feels like my success. I love helping others and this job lets me do just that!”

Cough is the Outreach Specialist for the Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Dakotas. She provides support at community events, veteran functions, online workshops and technical assistance for the program. Her grandparents emigrated from China and became entrepreneurs by opening a restaurant. Growing up with the daily hustle of a family-owned restaurant, Liza learned firsthand what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Liza has experience with all aspects of business ownership from customer service and bookkeeping, to marketing products online for a family-owned art business. Liza has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota.

“When I make connections with so many different veteran organizations and the community, we all have the same goal in mind, to help our veterans. My work is very rewarding and I feel blessed to serve those that have served our country."

VBOC of the Dakotas offers training workshops and Boots to Business and Reboot programs, both beginner entrepreneurial workshops. They also provide no-cost business advising with one-on-one personalized sessions where a client can really focus on what they need in their business to grow. VBOC of the Dakotas also offers online webinars that can be accessed by veterans at their convenience, whenever and wherever that may be. Several marketing webinars are held per month virtually and are free of charge to attend. For more information on these services, send a request to Dakotas.vboc@und.edu

Community Support: VBOC of the Dakotas gets to support their community by participating in a wide array of events from presenting at lunch and learns to having a booth at local veteran organization gatherings.

“If a veteran organization or a community event is being held, we try out best to participate," said Klug. "Our favorite community event to date was having a float in the Fargo Parade of Lights. We didn’t have a budget to create a float so we turned to cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, flashlights and more. At the end, our float looked like Santa dropped off many gifts for all the children. It is these events that make us a little different. "We get to be involved with the community to show our support. We have lots of fun!”

Wendy: The VBOC of the Dakotas is here to guide and mentor veterans along every step of the way for their business dreams. No business is too small and no business is not important. We listen to your ideas and help you turn them into your success. VBOC of the Dakotas is here to provide you support and become part of your cheerleader team.

"Nobody goes into business thinking they will work less hours," said Klug. "The hustle is real and we are here to help you get all your ducks in a row! We have a team of experts ready to help you see your dreams of business ownership come true.”

To learn more, visit und.edu/dakotasvboc/

Or, connect with them on social

Or, visit with them at 4200 James Ray Drive, Room 203 Grand Forks ND 58202-8372

• Alpha Team Heating Air

Conditioning | Williston • Benson County Veterans

Service Office | Minnewaukan • Bercier Construction | Rolla • Boisvert Sports Nutrition | Minot • Bottineau County Veterans

Commerce | Bowman • Burke County Veterans Service

Office | Bowbells • Cando Area Chamber of

Commerce | Cando • Capital Holdings, LLC | Bismarck • Capital Trophy | Bismarck • Cavalier County Veterans

Service Office | Langdon • DAV Devils Lake North Dakota

Regan McLean #5 | Devils Lake • DAVA Dickinson North Dakota

Unit #8 | Dickinson • Diamond 1 Stop | Lidgerwood • Dickey County Veterans Service

Office | Oakes • Divide County Veterans Service

Office | Crosby • Drug & Alcohol Testing Network | Bismarck • Dunn County Veterans Service

Office | Dickinson • Emmons County Veterans

Service Office | Linton • Endeavour Industries Inc. | Fargo • Fargo Snow and Ice

Management | Fargo • Feist Computers | Bismarck • Foster County Veterans Service

Office | Carrington • GISH Consulting | Fargo • Golden Valley County Veterans

Service Office | Beach • Grand Forks County Veteran

Office | Carson • Griggs County Veterans Service

Office | Cooperstown • Helping Hand Handyman

Services, LLC | Bismarck • Hermanson Exterior Cleaning and Restoration | Casselton • Hettinger Area Chamber of

Commerce | Hettinger • Innovative Basement Systems | Fargo • Integron Health, LLC | West

Fargo • Kidder County Veterans Service

Office | Steele • LaMoure County Veterans

Office | Stanton • Micah Cornerstone Ministries,

Inc. | Fargo • Mid-America Inspection

Office | Mandan • Mountrail County Veterans

Office | Lakota

To highlight the multitude of veteranowned businesses in North Dakota we put together the list below which contains all the businesses in our state registered with veteranownedbusiness.com. Learn more about these companies at veteranownedbusiness.com/nd

• North Dakota Procurement

Technical Assistance Center |

Fargo • Oh Dark Thirty Designs |

Watford City • Oliver County Veterans Service

Office | Center • Outlaw Concrete and

Wahpeton • Reli Trucking, LLC | Williston • Renville County Veterans

Service Office | Mohall • Sandberg Tech of North Dakota,

LLC | Devils Lake • Sargent County Veterans

Office | Amidon • Steele County Veterans Service

Office | Finley • Stutsman County Veterans

Service Office | Jamestown • The Gutter Gospel | West Fargo • The Sports Shop | Minot AFB • Too Dark Motorsports | Minot • Traill County Veterans Service

Office | Hillsboro • Tri State Home Inspection |

Fargo • Valley City Area Chamber of

Commerce | Valley City • VFW Fargo North Dakota - 762

Roy Chandler Post | Fargo • Walsh County Veterans Service

Office | Grafton • Wells County Veterans Service

Office | Harvey • Windy Acres French Brittany's |

Napoleon