Local veteran-owned small businesses are being celebrated for their contributions to communities and economies across Michigan.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is recognizing Veterans Small Business Week from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3.

“During Veterans Small Business Week, let’s support Michigan’s strong, local veteran-owned small businesses and celebrate the huge impact they have on our economy,” Whitmer said in a news release. “Michigan’s entrepreneurs and small business owners move our state forward. They create good-paying jobs and make our cities and towns better places to live and work. Many are owned and operated by Michiganders who served our nation in uniform and continue to make a difference in their community. This week and every week, let’s support our veteran-owned small businesses.”

Whitmer signed legislation to reduce barriers to professional licensure, creating an expedited path for veterans and their families to practice their licensed profession in Michigan, according to a Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs press release. This legislation will ease the pathway to reciprocal licenses through expedited processing and waiving initial license and application fees.

Veterans interested in registering a business in Michigan may also qualify for a waiver of fees for profit corporations, limited liability companies and nonprofit corporations.

“LARA (Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) is proud to show appreciation for members of the armed forces and their families by offering initial license/registration and application fee waivers,” LARA acting director Marlon Brown said in the release. “Our department offers several licensing supports for those currently serving and for those sevice members transitioning from active duty.”

LARA also counts military training and experiences toward fulfilling the requirements for certain licenses.

Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency Director Brian Love said small businesses are the backbone of the Michigan economy and a key part of the state’s Make it in Michigan economic development strategy.

“We want Michigan to be the ‘startup state’ by being the best place for veterans to start their own businesses,” Love said. “When veterans return home, they bring with them a unique skillset that is invaluable in the entrepreneurial space. But the skills veterans gain in the military can often feel non-transferable on a resume and that’s led them to innovate and hire other vets. The MVAA is here to support veterans as they return home and enter the civilian workforce or start their own small business. We know having meaningful employment saves lives and we are glad small business owners go beyond thanking our vets for their service and recognize their service by hiring them and promoting them.”

With Christmas right around the corner, this week would be a great time to not only support our local small businesses, but also our local veterans in the process.

We are glad to see that Whitmer is recognizing the contributions that these businesses have on our community.

For more information, visit michigan.gov/MVAA.