SBA program helps vet open combat gear store

[unhappycamper]

With two Iraq combat tours under his belt, Sgt. Colin Burgos left the Marine Corps with dreams of opening his own business. With the help of an SBA-backed loan targeted at veterans, this winter opened Combat Ready USA, a San Clemente, Calif., store selling tactical gear.


SBA program helps vet open combat gear store
By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Feb 24, 2008 17:38:14 EST

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — After two Iraq tours, Sgt. Colin Burgos left the Marine Corps to begin his new life with an eye on opening his own business.

It was a struggle, developing a business plan only to get rejected by banks for loans at every turn. But in October, armed with a 65-page business plan, help arrived in the form of a Patriot Express loan.

Patriot Express is a relatively new program offered for combat veterans by the Small Business Administration.

For Burgos, who served with Camp Pendleton-based 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, it was what he needed. He made a down payment for the $249,750 fixed-rate loan with his own earmarked savings and some seed money from his family.

“I think any grunt can be a business owner with this program,” he said. “I was adamant about this; this company has got to exist.”


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/02/marine_patriot_loans_080224/