Mobilization and Your Small Business

If you are a small business who employs a National Guard and/or Reserve Member who has been called up to active duty, or if you are a National Guard and/or Reserve Member small business owner and have been called up to active duty, the SBA and the Arkansas SBTDC can help.

For immediate assistance with your veteran-owned small business, please contact your nearest Arkansas Small Business & Technology Development Center.

READY TO GO

The READY TO GO Mobilization Planning Guide was prepared for business owners and self-employed members of the Arkansas National Guard and Reserve by the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center network staff in conjunction with the Office of the Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard.

Download READY TO GO Mobilization Planning Guide for Small Business Owners Serving in the Arkansas National Guard or Reserve

Balancing Business and Deployment Resource Guide

Before you mobilize, you must decide whether to sustain or suspend business operations (mothball).

The Small Business Administration has developed the Balancing Business and Deployment Resource Guide for members of the Reserve or National Guard who are also small business owners preparing to mobilize. If you are a small business owner facing mobilization, you will find important information in this guide and on the accompanying CD-ROM that will help prepare your business
and your employees for your absence. Even if you are not currently designated for mobilization, this guide contains important information in preparing
for this eventuality.

Download Balancing Business and Deployment Resource Guide from SBA.gov

Small Business Mobilization Planner

The lessons learned from Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm prompted the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, to develop The Small Business Mobilization Planner. It is designed to help reservists prepare for covering their business interests before an actual mobilization occurs.

Download Small Business Mobilization Planner (.doc) from SBA.gov

Getting Veterans Back to Business Resource Guide

The Getting Veterans Back to Business Resource Guide was developed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for small business owners returning from an active tour as part of your reserve obligation. In the pages that follow you can find the tools, planning resources and information needed to help reestablish your small business.

Download Getting Veterans Back to Business Resource Guide from SBA.gov

View Getting Veterans Back to Business online class (40 min.)

Model/Example for a Press Release

The SBA has developed a Model/Example for a Press Release for veteran businesses. Veterans should consider using the example for developing a press release announcing the return of the veteran and the status of the veteran business.

Download Model/Example for a Veteran Business Press Release from SBA.gov

Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loans (MREIDL)

Small Businesses that are owned by military reservists (National Guard and Reserve Members) and/or small businesses that employ military reservists called to active duty may qualify for Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loans (MREIDL).

The purpose of the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (MREIDL) is to provide funds to eligible small businesses to meet its ordinary and necessary operating expenses that it could have met, but is unable to meet, because an essential employee was "called-up" to active duty in their role as a military reservist. These loans are intended only to provide the amount of working capital needed by a small business to pay its necessary obligations as they mature until operations return to normal after the essential employee is released from active military duty. The purpose of these loans is not to cover lost income or lost profits. MREIDL funds cannot be used to take the place of regular commercial debt, to refinance long-term debt or to expand the business.

The filing period for small businesses to apply for economic injury loan assistance begins on the date the essential employee is ordered to active duty and ends on the date 90 days after the essential employee is discharged or released from active duty. (NOTE: This program applies to military conflicts occurring or ending on or after March 24, 1999)

For more information on the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loans (MREIDL) loan program visit SBA.gov

For immediate assistance applying for an MREIDL loan, please contact your nearest office of the Arkansas Small Business & Technology Development Center.