FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2026
Contact:
Madison Hardy
Janessa Tolman
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler requesting a Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC) be established in Idaho to provide entrepreneurial support to veterans, service members, and military spouses.
“Idaho is home to more than 120,000 veterans and 12,000 veteran-owned businesses. [. . .] These veterans and small business owners deserve a dedicated, in-state resource with a deep understanding of Idaho’s unique economic environment and the challenges veterans face,” Risch wrote. “The Gem State supports a robust military population across installations statewide, including Mountain Home Air Force Base and the Idaho National Guard’s Gowen Field. Opening an Idaho-based VBOC will improve the SBA’s outreach, counseling, and business training for Gem State veterans, reducing barriers to entrepreneurship and providing them resources to achieve self-sufficiency.”
Idaho was previously served by the Washington-based Pacific Northwest Regional VBOC.
Risch, a current member and former chairman of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, is a steadfast advocate for veterans and local entrepreneurs. Risch has led efforts to ensure these Idahoans have full access to their earned benefits and federal resources for long-term success.
Read the full letter here.
About Jim Risch
Jim Risch proudly represents the people of Idaho in the United States Senate. He currently chairs the Foreign Relations Committee and sits on the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Risch previously served as Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and State Senator. For the latest press releases and constituent services visit risch.senate.gov.
