For 22 years, Air Force veteran Mitch Goodwin worked for the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, where he saw the need for general contractors who understood government operations and could deliver competitive pricing with timely results. With opportunity in sight, Goodwin knew taking the leap into business ownership required more than vision. It required guidance, resources, and confidence.
The turning point for Goodwin came when he attended the Boots to Business program, an SBA program offered to military members transitioning into civilian life, through the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) network. While at the seminar, he gained the tools, confidence, and foundational skills to move forward and connect with advisors who would support him on his path to becoming a federal contractor.
Motivated and equipped with new insights, Goodwin launched Goodwin Facilities Solutions and was certified as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOSB) through the MySBA Certifications Platform. He continued building his business’s foundation with support from the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, the Arkansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center, and SBA’s guaranteed capital programs. These resources provided Goodwin with mentorship, technical know-how, and access to financing that empowered him to compete and win federal contracts.
Tip: Preparation leads to strong businesses. Through SBA programs like Boots to Business and local SBA resource partners, you can turn business ideas into business plans.
Continued Success with SBA
Looking back, Goodwin credits the SBA with giving him the push he needed to finally launch his business: “After I went to the Boots to Business seminar, I met a lot of SBA folks, and they were a wealth of information You need to contact your local SBA office and go to one of these seminars because it’s an eye opener and they gave me so many resources.”
After five years in business, Goodwin Facilities Solutions had approximately $12 million of contract work scheduled, a testament to how service-disabled veterans leverage SBA resources to grow thriving, resilient businesses.
Tip: Don’t wait for the help you need to find you. Take the first step and connect with SBA to access specialized support and capital for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.
Final Thoughts
Mitch Goodwin’s success shows how the right mix of determination and resources transforms an idea into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. With programs like Boots to Business, local VBOCs, SBA-guaranteed lending, and specialized training through SBA partners, veterans don’t have to build their businesses alone.
Goodwin’s story is proof that SBA-backed support helps service-disabled veterans not only launch but thrive.
Ready to take the next step? Visit sba.gov/ovbd and follow the SBA Office of Veterans Business Development on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.
The turning point for Goodwin came when he attended the Boots to Business program, an SBA program offered to military members transitioning into civilian life, through the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) network. While at the seminar, he gained the tools, confidence, and foundational skills to move forward and connect with advisors who would support him on his path to becoming a federal contractor.
Motivated and equipped with new insights, Goodwin launched Goodwin Facilities Solutions and was certified as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOSB) through the MySBA Certifications Platform. He continued building his business’s foundation with support from the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, the Arkansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center, and SBA’s guaranteed capital programs. These resources provided Goodwin with mentorship, technical know-how, and access to financing that empowered him to compete and win federal contracts.
Tip: Preparation leads to strong businesses. Through SBA programs like Boots to Business and local SBA resource partners, you can turn business ideas into business plans.
Continued Success with SBA
Looking back, Goodwin credits the SBA with giving him the push he needed to finally launch his business: “After I went to the Boots to Business seminar, I met a lot of SBA folks, and they were a wealth of information You need to contact your local SBA office and go to one of these seminars because it’s an eye opener and they gave me so many resources.”
After five years in business, Goodwin Facilities Solutions had approximately $12 million of contract work scheduled, a testament to how service-disabled veterans leverage SBA resources to grow thriving, resilient businesses.
Tip: Don’t wait for the help you need to find you. Take the first step and connect with SBA to access specialized support and capital for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.
Final Thoughts
Mitch Goodwin’s success shows how the right mix of determination and resources transforms an idea into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. With programs like Boots to Business, local VBOCs, SBA-guaranteed lending, and specialized training through SBA partners, veterans don’t have to build their businesses alone.
Goodwin’s story is proof that SBA-backed support helps service-disabled veterans not only launch but thrive.
Ready to take the next step? Visit sba.gov/ovbd and follow the SBA Office of Veterans Business Development on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.