The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 28 issued a proclamation recognizing November 2025 as National Veterans Small Business Week and Nov. 29 as Small Business Saturday.

Commissioner Corey Applegate read the proclamation and cited statistics included in the document noting that veteran‑owned businesses represent about 6.2% of businesses statewide and that Colorado hosts more than 730,000 small businesses that make up 99.5% of all businesses in the state.

Brandon Eldridge, executive director of the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) serving the Pikes Peak region, said the SBDC and partner organizations provide start‑to‑scale support for veteran entrepreneurs. “These men and women continue to serve our nation, not on the battlefield, but in the boardroom, the workshops, and in the marketplace,” Eldridge said. He outlined the SBDC’s role and noted an upcoming Veterans Small Business Conference on Nov. 7 at Great Wolf Lodge, which the SBDC said would bring roughly 400 veterans, 40 resource partners and 30 veteran vendors.

Several veteran entrepreneurs who attended briefed the commissioners on their organizations and experience. Michael, introduced as an equine specialist with Unharnessed Potential, described that nonprofit’s equine‑assisted therapy program for veterans and said the program partners with the Department of Veterans Affairs adaptive sports grant and Wounded Warrior Project to provide services at no cost to participants. Sam Westfall, founder of Valor Archery Challenge, said he uses archery as a therapeutic tool for military‑connected people and works with local entrepreneurship supports to scale his program. Ishmael Whitley, of Veterans Touch Woodwork, described custom woodworking work and contracts he has secured with community events.

Commissioners thanked the veterans and the SBDC for their work. Vice Chair Holly Williams and Commissioner Lauren Nelson both noted the community value of veteran entrepreneurship; Chair Carrie Geithner, who is listed on the proclamation, joined the unanimous vote to approve the proclamation 4‑0.

The proclamation and event details are posted on the county website; organizers said the Nov. 7 conference is intended as a resource and networking opportunity for veteran business owners in the Pikes Peak region.