Veterans have unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to entrepreneurship and securing business loans. On the one hand, the military provides leadership and strategic training, but deployment and frequent relocations can interfere with maintaining good credit and securing meaningful business relationships. That’s why veteran lending initiatives are crucial to bridge the gap between military service and business. We sat down with Grant Bennett of Austin-based People Fund, to talk about his work addressing veteran financing for this episode of the Impact Lenders Podcast.
Grant Bennett is the Director of Veteran Programs for PeopleFund, a CDFI small business loan fund. In this role, he manages the national CDFI Veteran Collaborative, which focuses on expanding access to affordable capital for military veterans and their spouses.
Grant joined PeopleFund in 2014 as an intern while serving in the Texas Army National Guard. Once hired, Grant served as a Loan Support Officer and Senior Underwriter where he gained intimate knowledge of SBA loan products and underwriting and created several customer and underwriting tools to further increase productivity and reduce loan pipeline work time.
Prior to joining PeopleFund, Grant served three years in the US Army and five years in the Texas Army National Guard. He deployed twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Grant was a qualified Paratrooper, awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, and multiple Army Commendation and Army Appreciation Medals.
Grant holds a MS degree in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin and BA degree in Business Management from Saint Edward’s University.
Resources Related to This Episode:
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Grant Bennett is the Director of Veteran Programs for PeopleFund, a CDFI small business loan fund. In this role, he manages the national CDFI Veteran Collaborative, which focuses on expanding access to affordable capital for military veterans and their spouses.
Grant joined PeopleFund in 2014 as an intern while serving in the Texas Army National Guard. Once hired, Grant served as a Loan Support Officer and Senior Underwriter where he gained intimate knowledge of SBA loan products and underwriting and created several customer and underwriting tools to further increase productivity and reduce loan pipeline work time.
Prior to joining PeopleFund, Grant served three years in the US Army and five years in the Texas Army National Guard. He deployed twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Grant was a qualified Paratrooper, awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, and multiple Army Commendation and Army Appreciation Medals.
Grant holds a MS degree in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin and BA degree in Business Management from Saint Edward’s University.
Resources Related to This Episode:
- Website for the Veteran CDFI Coalition: https://www.vet.loan/
- PeopleFund's Website: https://peoplefund.org/
Tell us what you think! Visit the Contact Us page to get in touch.
