SPRINGFIELD – If you are an Illinois Veteran who owns your own business or possess the skills and determination to start one, then the “Mission: Veterans 2 Entrepreneurs” event in Marion, Ill. is for you.

This is a great opportunity for Veterans who own small businesses to learn about procurement opportunities with the State of Illinois, federal and local government agencies, and many not-for-profit organizations.

Hosted by the IDVA and Illinois Central Management Services (CMS), this free program will also guide Veterans through the process to have their companies become certified as a Veteran-owned business in the State of Illinois and be eligible for the set-aside goal of all state contracts and services, which was signed into law a year ago by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.

The law sets an annual goal of 3 percent of every state contract to go to service-disabled Veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB) and Veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB) with annual gross sales of $75 million or less. Larger Veteran-owned businesses can apply for an exemption if they can demonstrate that a significant number of Veteran-owned suppliers or subcontractors would benefit.

The “Mission: Veterans 2 Entrepreneurs” Summit will take place from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., on Friday, July 27, 2012 at the VFW Heyde-Pillow Post 1301, 201 W. Longstreet, Marion, IL 62959.

For more information about IDVA and other Veteran initiatives, visit www.veterans.illinois.gov.