COASTAL LIVING

        October  2000

     The NC Division of Archives and History is honoring NC veterans by sponsoring a special "Military Collection Project".  The goal of this project is to better document the state's rich military heritage through the collection and preservation of photographs, documents, records of service and memorabilia related to the military service of state residents regardless of rank, branch, time period, location or length of service.

     The State Archives is particularly interested in donations of the following items:  wartime period personal correspondence, diaries, synopses of service, reminiscences, memoirs, discharge papers, official service related documents, selected memorabilia, photographs (originals or copies, in uniform).  A note:  original items may be donated or loaned temporarily for copying and returned at no expense to the owner.

     If you have something to share, or are interested in learning more about this project please contact:

Sion H. Harrington, III

Coordinator, Military Collection Project

Archives and Records Section

4614 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC  27699-4614

(919) 733-3952 or email: sharrington@ncsl.dcr.state.nc.us

Veterans and the SBA (Small Business Administration)

     In August 1999 the Veteran's Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 was signed into law.  It was designed to honor veterans' contributions to our country, to acknowledge the important role they can serve to the economy and to require the SBA to champion veterans' efforts to access small business opportunities.

     In the spirit of this new law, the SBA this month signed a partnership agreement with the VA to expand services and programs to assist veterans in starting or growing a business.  The agreement calls for the SBA, in coordination with the VA and the Association of Small Business Development Centers to publicize programs and services available to veterans.

     The SBA is very interested in reaching out to veterans and is eager to share information on SBA Programs to assist veterans in starting and in development of a small business.  The SBA's Veterans Business Outreach Program (VBOP) offers business training, counseling, technical assistance and mentoring to service disabled veteran business owners through the services of the following organizations:

·        Small Business Development Centers (SBDC's)

·        Business Information Centers (BIC's)

·        Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)

·        Women's Business Centers (WBC's)

Locations and phone numbers for these are available by calling the SBA Answer Desk at 1-800-U-ASK-SBA.  For brochures or additional information about SBA assistance to veterans call the Veterans Officer, Ed Fleetwood, SBA N.C. District Office, (704) 344-6809 or visit their website at www.sba.gov/vets/, or call County Veterans Services at (252) 728-8440.

     A great local resource is the Small Business Center at Carteret Community College.   The center is designed to meet the training needs of the area's small business owners, managers, and other personnel, as well as entrepreneurs planning to start a small business.  The Small Business Center's services include workshops, seminars, and short-term courses.  The center also offers confidential business counseling at no charge and has a resource center with publications, audiotapes, computer software, and videos to help with small business research and problem solving.  For information about the Small Business Center, contact Perry Harker at 222-6205.

Agent Orange Review/Gulf War Review

     The "Agent Orange Review" and the "Gulf War Review" are written by the VA's Environmental Agents Service (EAS) and provide relevant information about the concerns of Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans, their families and others interested in the possible long-term consequences of military service in Vietnam and in the Gulf War Region.  The "Reviews" describe current and ongoing actions by the VA and other governmental agencies in response to the issues.  If you would like a copy of the most current review (Agent Orange/August 2000 and Gulf War/June 2000) contact Veterans Services at (252) 728-8440.

Veterans Day Parade