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Applications are open for Rider University‘s Veteran Entrepreneurship Training (VET) program.

Rider’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies offers the free, six-week course. It aims to help these individuals harness the skills needed to develop a business concept or expand an existing venture.

Support from the New Jersey Bankers Charitable Foundation Inc. helps make VET possible. Established in 2005, the group honors fallen or permanently disabled military members in the post-9/11 conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan by providing scholarships to eligible dependents.

Key VET details include:

• Veterans, their spouses and dependents may apply
• Program capped at 20 students to ensure participants receive personalized feedback
• Additional coursework for those interested in pursuing college credit for the program
• Applications will stay open through May 15 – unless it reaches capacity earlier
• The program will run Wednesday evenings at Rider, May 21-June 25, from 6-9 p.m.

A proud Yellow Ribbon school, Rider receives consistent recognition for its support of veterans and military members. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked the school No. 12 on its Best Colleges for Veterans-Regional Universities North list. The Lawrenceville-based institution places a heavy emphasis and focus on supporting veterans and their loved ones.

“As the program enters its 12th year, I am continually impressed by the veterans,” said Ron Cook, professor of entrepreneurship and the program’s instructor. “They are eager to learn – and I’ve seen some successful businesses develop as a result of their efforts in their program. My goal is to provide them with a framework for the critical decision-making and analytical skills needed for starting or growing a business.”

More information on VET and how to apply is available here.