As the fund has invested nearly $120 million across the United States, it has launched its second phase of the project.

Austin, Texas, September 30, 2026 / PRNewswire / —— Veteran Loan Fund ( VLF, Veterans Loan Fund) announced that the first cohort of its “Veterans and Military Spouses Business Accelerator” ( Veteran and MilSpouse Business Accelerator, referred to as VLF Accelerator) has officially graduated. This marks an important step forward for the organization in providing veterans and their spouses who are entrepreneurs with access to funding and business coaching opportunities. VLF stated that the success of this accelerator program is inseparable from the generous support of Truist Foundation.

A total of 37 entrepreneurs from 5 states participated in the first session of the program. VLF indicates that the graduates obtained over $3.2 million in loan funds and $150,000 in grants through the community development financial institutions they participated in ( CDFI ). These enterprises are expected to create or preserve more than 120 jobs in total.

This 8-week accelerator program combines practical business education, financing channels, and continuous technical support. Its courses are provided through collaboration among multiple parties, including the University of Texas at Arlington Veterans Business Outreach Center ( UTAVBOC ), Veteran Women's Enterprise Center ( VWEC ), member CDFI, and other professional partners.

"Helping these graduates obtain the funds, knowledge, and support needed to build successful businesses strongly reminds us of why such cooperation is so important," said a veteran and the head of business consulting services at Ray Pennie. Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs is a company located in Georgia and also a member of VLF. "Supporting veterans and their spouses is both an honor and a responsibility. This first project is just the beginning; there will be more batches in the future."

Graduates share their experiences

VLF indicates that this accelerator program offers more than just classroom teaching.

"This accelerator program made me realize that I must set aside dedicated time to focus on the growth and strategy of my business," said Chandra Lamonica Winford, a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves and the owner of Winford Financial LLC. She was sponsored by ACE in Georgia to participate in the program. "It also exposed me to new technologies and how to use them to drive business growth more quickly." Winford also emphasized that she had the opportunity to build connections with speakers and other veterans, who could potentially become mentors, customers, or business partners in the future.

In Missouri, Robert Dobynes Jr, a veteran who is taking over a family-owned optometry business with a 40-year history, discussed the importance of having a partner who understands his company and its history.

"As a veteran who is taking over an optometry business founded by my parents that has a 40-year history, what I need is not just funding; I also need a partner who understands this legacy as well as the interests involved," said Dobynes. He was sponsored to participate in this project by Justine Petersen, a member of CDFI and VLF based in Missouri. "This accelerator program provided valuable strategies and helped me change my perspective as I pushed the business to the next stage," VLF stated. Dobynes and other participants emphasized the role played by CDFI in sponsoring their participation, as well as the value of the project at the local level.

Continue to expand on the basis of national influence records

VLF indicates that as of this graduation, its coverage continues to expand. As of June 30, 2026, VLF members have provided over $118 million in loan funds to 1,537 veterans and spouses of military personnel, helping to create or retain more than 8,350 jobs across the United States.

VLF indicates that since 2021, this organization has joined forces with the CDFI network and professional partners to provide affordable funding, customized business coaching, and technical support to help veterans and spouses of military personnel establish stronger and more sustainable businesses.

According to VLF, the national "Veterans and Military Spouses Business Accelerator" is an extension of this model: on one hand, it connects entrepreneurs through a coordinated and unified curriculum system, and on the other hand, it retains the local network of relationships and personalized support provided by CDFI.

The application for the second phase of the national project will be open on October 7th.

VLF indicates that applications for the second phase of the VLF Business Accelerator program will open on October 7, 2026. This program will continue to combine business education, affordable financing channels, and technical support through the CDFI network and professional partners involved with VLF. There are limited spots available, so VLF veterans and spouses of military personnel are encouraged to visit www.veteranloanfund.com to learn more information and get in touch with the participating CDFI.

VLF also expressed gratitude to the participating CDFI, educational partners, investors, and supporters, stating that it is the collaboration of all parties that has made this national initiative possible.

About Veteran Loan Fund

Veteran Loan Fund indicates that this organization is a collaborative project composed of a group of community development financial institutions across the United States ( CDFI ) and professional technical support partners. Its mission is to help under-served veterans and spouses of military personnel to start and develop small businesses. The fund provides specialized funding sources, while also building a platform to share best practices and conducting advocacy work to assist lending institutions in issuing loans and developing local veteran programs.

Its members CDFI include: Access, to, Capital, for, Entrepreneurs (Georgia), Appalachian Community Capital (Virginia), Ascendus (New York), Black Business Investment Fund (Florida), Business Impact Northwest (Washington), Colorado Enterprise Fund (Colorado), DreamSpring (New Mexico), Economic, and, Community Development Institute (Ohio), Justine Petersen (Missouri), Pathway Lending (Tennessee), PeopleFund (Texas), Pursuit (New Jersey), Wisconsin Women Business Initiative Corporation (Wisconsin), as well as African American Alliance, of, and CDFI CEOs. For more information, please refer to: https :// www.veteranloanfund.com.

Media contact: