WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration recently joined the Department of Defense’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership, a program which helps military spouses find jobs.
The SBA is one of 85 new partners joining MSEP, bringing the total number of employers to 500.
MSEP connects military spouses with hundreds of partner employers who commit to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses, the Small Business Administration said in a news release. Since the program’s inception in 2011, MSEP employers have hired more than 175,000 military spouses.
“SBA proudly joins this partnership, which will strengthen our agency’s dedication and support to the one million military spouses in our nation’s military community located around the world,”
said SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza. “Military spouses are skilled, diverse problem solvers, and we welcome their contributions to SBA.”
The SBA Office of Veterans Business Development also ensures that military spouses and servicemembers remain empowered to grow and succeed as small-business owners, according to the news release. The SBA provides veterans and their spouses with business ownership tools, including entrepreneurial training, government contracting, disaster assistance and capital access.
“It is a privilege for SBA to enter into this partnership. Our agency understands the challenge for military spouses to find and maintain employment with frequent change-of-station moves,” said Elias Hernandez, SBA chief human capital officer. “Military spouses contribute significantly to our nation, and SBA looks forward to offering opportunities to these talented individuals who support their spouses serving our country.”
The MSEP initiative is part of the Department of Defense’s broader Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program. The department established the SECO program to provide education and career guidance to military spouses, offering free, comprehensive resources and tools related to career exploration and education.