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BWG Reaches Small Business Milestone With VIP Grow

September 30, 2016
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VIP GrowRJ Blake

Helping Veteran-Owned Small Business Navigate Government Contracting at No Cost

BLAKE WILLSON GROUP (BWG), a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) CPA firm recently completed the Veteran Institute Procurement (VIP) GROW Program, a comprehensive training and certification program that helps veteran-owned businesses strengthen their ability to win government contracts and do business with both military and civilian agencies they once served in uniform.

 

On June 23, 2016, BWG alongside 47 other businesses from 14 states and the District of Columbia graduated from the VIP GROW Program. Upon graduation, RJ Blake, BWG President and CEO was presented a congressional citation by Congressman Don Beyer of Virginia’s 8th District on behalf of the company signifying a momentous day for the company.

After receiving the citation, Mr. Blake, stated, “We are honored to receive the VIP GROW certification and congressional citation. After all the networking and opportunities for guidance offered by the VIP program, I am confident BWG is now armed with the requisite knowledge and acumen to achieve our long-term goals in the government contracting industry. I highly recommend the VIP GROW program to all veteran-owned business looking for a leg up on the competition. I am extremely thankful for the selfless and dedicated men and women that deliver the program to benefit veterans like myself.”

The first program of its kind in the nation, VIP GROW is conducted by professional subject-matter specialists in the essentials necessary to win government contracts: law, accounting, insurance, human resources, marketing and proposals. It also provides participants with access to Federal and prime contracting executives along with a national network of veteran owned small businesses that they can team with on opportunities.

Since its launch in 2009, VIP GROW has helped 638 service-disabled and veteran-owned small businesses grow.  A survey of 255 of the program’s graduates determined that 2915 new jobs were created and the size of their businesses increased by an average of 51% within a year of graduating from the Institute. More than 81% of surveyed graduates credited VIP GROW for equipping them to make recent business decisions and avoid unseen pitfalls. Additionally, veteran-owned businesses are more likely to hire, mentor and train other war veterans as they transition to private life, which is a national priority.

In regards to the goals of VIP GROW, Barbara Ashe, President of Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation stated, “we are honored to give back to the men and women who served our country by providing them with the tools necessary to succeed as government contractors. We hope this training fosters their success as businesses and employers.”

 

VIP GROW is a three-day, 27-hour comprehensive certification program. Participants must be a C-level leader in a Veteran-owned small business operating for at least two years with a minimum of 3 full time employees, and experience working on government contracts as a prime and/or sub-contractor to a prime. With volunteer instructors and at no cost to participants, VIP GROW is fully funded by the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation, partners, and VIP sponsors.

For information on Blake Willson Group: Andrew Griffin, 919-796-1170; agriffin@blakewillsongroup.com

For information on VIP: Barbara Ashe, 301-738-0015 x215; bashe@mcccmd.com

For additional information, please visit www.NationalVip.org or the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation.

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