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Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program

Calling our Community Veterans and Thier Families!
If you have a new idea for a business or you would like to work
on your current start-up venture, this training is free for you!

We are currently accepting applications for our Spring 2026 cohorts. 

Cohort #1 - The Greenhouse - Downtown St. Petersburg
When: Mondays, January 19th - March 2nd, 2026 - Evenings.

Cohort #2 - SPC Clearwater Campus
When: Saturdays, March 28th - May 2nd, 2026 - 9am - 1pm.

To help translate the skills learned in the military to entrepreneurship, Veterans Florida, SPC, and the St.Petersburg Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to offer the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program, a cohort-based learning initiative. Whether you already have a startup venture or just an idea, this experience is for you!

Your family members may be eligible to participate. Building a business is often a family endeavor, and we want to support everyone involved. Spouses and children are encouraged to apply.

Contact Greta Kishbaugh at kishbaugh.greta@spcollege.edu or call 813-766-8715 with any questions or ideas!

Eligibility
To be eligible for the program, you must be an honorably discharged veteran of the United States military, an active duty member of the United States military within 12 months of separation or retirement, a member of the Florida National Guard or United States Reserves, or the spouse or family member of an honorably discharged veteran of the United States military.

Completing this application in it's entirety will allow SPC to verify your elidgibility. Failure to produce a copy of your DD214 or a benefit letter clearly indicating honorable service/dischange will result in ineligibility.

Please note that this is an application form and not a guarantee for program participation. Program staff will be in touch about next steps once your application is reviewed.

Spots are limited...don't miss out! 

Demographics

*1
Full name
*2
Date of Birth
/ /
3
SPC Student ID Number (if applicable).
*4
Phone number.
*5
Preferred email address.

Program Eligibility

6
Please choose the category which applies to you best:
*7
Please upload a PDF of your (or your spouses)  DD214 indicating you were honorably discharged.

File size limit: 2 MB

*8
Please upload proof of Florida residency (Florida driver's license, Florida vehicle registration, Florida voter's registration). 

File size limit: 2 MB

9
If you wish, you may upload additional evidence which proves your connection to the military or your connection to the State of Florida. Any additional documentaion may be used if we can not verify honorable discharge from the military or your florida residency from files uploaded in questions 7 and 8.

File size limit: 2 MB

Entrepreneurial Experience and Bio

*10
Please tell us a little about your entrepreneurial experience thus far.
*11
Please take the time to share with us your entrepreneurial vision.
*12
Please provide us with a short biography about yourself (please include military service, career details and professional experience, along with any degrees or credentials you hold).
13
Which cohort are you intertested in participating in?
 

If you have comments about this survey or questions regarding how to complete this survey, please contact Meghan Cottrell at cottrell.meghan@spcollege.edu or call (727) 341-3086.

The Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg College affirms its equal opportunity policy in accordance with the provisions of the Florida Educational Equity Act and all other relevant state and federal laws, rules and regulations. The college will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or against any qualified individual with disabilities in its employment practices or in the admission and treatment of students. Recognizing that sexual harassment constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex and violates this Rule, the college will not tolerate such conduct. Should you experience such behavior, please contact the Title IX Coordinator and EEO Officer at 727-341-3055; by mail at P.O. Box 13489, St. Petersburg, FL 33733-3489; or by email at eaeo_director@spcollege.edu or spctitleix@spcollege.edu.