Houston, TX, February 17, 2026
In a significant move to support veteran entrepreneurship, Lone Star College System is enhancing its efforts to include veteran-owned businesses in its procurement processes. The new VetHUB initiative aims to provide greater access to public contracts for service-disabled veteran entrepreneurs, promoting economic growth in the Greater Houston area. The program simplifies the certification process and engages local veteran-owned businesses in providing goods and services, fostering a stronger local economy and community support for those who have served.
Houston, TX
Houston Bolsters Veteran Entrepreneurship: Lone Star College Paves the Way
In a dynamic move to champion local entrepreneurs and stimulate economic growth, Lone Star College System (LSCS) is intensifying its efforts to integrate veteran-owned businesses into its procurement processes. This initiative underscores a commitment to recognizing the unique skills and dedication that veterans bring to the business landscape, fostering an environment where small businesses can thrive and contribute significantly to the broader Texas economy.
The dedication of institutions like Lone Star College to creating direct, meaningful pathways for those who served is a testament to the community’s proactive approach to economic development. By reducing barriers and streamlining access to contracts, LSCS aims to empower service-disabled veteran entrepreneurs, enabling them to expand their operations and solidify their role as vital contributors to the prosperity of the Greater Houston area and beyond.
The VetHUB Initiative: A New Era for Veteran Business Contracts
At the heart of this enhanced focus is the Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB) initiative, a statewide program designed to increase public contracting opportunities for small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. VetHUB aims to strengthen the Texas economy by expanding access to state-level contracts for these businesses. The program provides a free certification process for Texas businesses that are at least 51% owned, managed, and operated by one or more service-disabled veterans.
This initiative represents a strategic shift in state-level supplier diversity programs. In December 2025, the VetHUB program officially replaced the former Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program in Texas. This change, implemented through emergency administrative rules, removed race- and gender-based eligibility, focusing exclusively on businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans with at least a 20% service-connected disability. The objective of VetHUB is to facilitate the growth and development of service-disabled veterans’ businesses and increase their contracts and subcontracts with the State of Texas.
Lone Star College System’s Proactive Engagement
Lone Star College System has notably strengthened its commitment to veteran empowerment through the VetHUB initiative. The college system is actively recruiting, engaging, and awarding contracts to qualified veteran-owned businesses. This commitment extends through its Supplier Outreach Department, which is dedicated to promoting the participation of locally owned businesses in the college’s procurement processes.
LSCS focuses on connecting Greater Houston and Texas-based entrepreneurs with opportunities to supply goods and services to its campuses. The department works closely with various Lone Star College departments to identify and engage qualified local vendors, while supporting initiatives that expand procurement opportunities for small businesses in the community. Goals include increasing participation from local businesses by improving communication, simplifying vendor registration, and streamlining approval processes, as well as growing direct spending with Texas-based vendors.
Benefits and Opportunities for Veteran Entrepreneurs
For veteran entrepreneurs, VetHUB certification offers substantial advantages. The certification is free of charge and remains valid for up to four years, provided the business continues to meet eligibility requirements. Certified VetHUB businesses are listed in the online Texas VetHUB Directory, a crucial resource utilized by state agencies and prime contractors to solicit bids and identify potential subcontracting partners.
Partnering with Lone Star College provides businesses with opportunities to grow, expand their network, gain a competitive edge in Texas’s marketplace, and increase contract opportunities. LSCS’s procurement process actively seeks qualified local vendors for a wide variety of needs, offering both direct purchasing and subcontracting possibilities.
Workshops and Community Collaboration
To ensure that veteran-owned businesses are well-prepared to engage and compete for contract opportunities, LSCS collaborates with chambers of commerce, procurement networks, and veteran organizations. Lone Star College System regularly hosts workshops for current and potential vendors interested in doing business with them. These sessions provide valuable insights into the procurement program and offer guidance on navigating the vendor registration process.
The Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce (HRVCC) further amplifies the voice and visibility of veteran-owned businesses, fostering economic growth in the Houston region and across Texas. Through initiatives like the HRVCC Business Growth Academy and Veterans Business Marketplaces, veteran entrepreneurs receive leadership training and business education, connecting them directly to larger business opportunities.
Driving Economic Growth Through Entrepreneurial Spirit
Veteran entrepreneurs significantly impact the American economy, with millions of veteran-owned small businesses employing a considerable workforce nationwide. These businesses often benefit from the discipline, leadership, and dedication that veterans acquire during their military service, skills that are highly valuable in the business world.
In Texas, veteran, minority, and women-owned small businesses play a major role in the state’s economy, with Texas being home to a substantial number of the nation’s veteran business owners. By focusing on veteran-owned enterprises, the VetHUB program and the efforts of institutions like Lone Star College System contribute to a robust economic ecosystem, promoting innovation, job creation, and sustainable growth within Houston and across the state. This targeted approach highlights the value of entrepreneurial spirit and the positive impact of supporting those who have served.
Conclusion
The Lone Star College System’s commitment to supporting veteran-owned businesses through the VetHUB initiative is a commendable endeavor for the Houston TX business community. By simplifying access to contracts and actively engaging with veteran entrepreneurs, LSCS not only honors those who served but also strategically invests in the economic vitality of the region. This focus on empowering small businesses and fostering entrepreneurial innovation exemplifies a proactive approach to economic growth.
We encourage all eligible veteran-owned businesses in the Greater Houston area and across Texas to explore the opportunities offered by the VetHUB program and Lone Star College System’s supplier outreach. Supporting these initiatives directly contributes to a stronger, more resilient Houston small business landscape and a thriving Texas TX entrepreneurs’ ecosystem. Staying informed and engaged in these local economic development efforts is key to building a prosperous future for our community.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the VetHUB initiative?
- The VetHUB initiative, or Veteran Heroes United in Business, is a statewide program in Texas designed to increase public contracting opportunities for small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.
- Who is eligible for VetHUB certification?
- Texas businesses that are at least 51% owned, managed, and operated by one or more service-disabled veterans with at least a 20% service-connected disability are eligible for VetHUB certification.
- How does Lone Star College System support veteran-owned businesses through VetHUB?
- Lone Star College System (LSCS) is strengthening its commitment to veteran empowerment by actively recruiting, engaging, and awarding contracts to qualified veteran-owned businesses through the VetHUB initiative. LSCS also works to promote participation from local businesses by improving communication, simplifying vendor registration, and streamlining approval processes.
- What are the benefits of VetHUB certification for businesses?
- VetHUB certification is free of charge and good for up to four years, provided the business continues to meet eligibility requirements. It also lists businesses in the online Texas VetHUB Directory, which state agencies and prime contractors use to solicit bids and identify subcontracting opportunities.
- How does the VetHUB program impact the Texas economy?
- The VetHUB program aims to boost the state’s economy by expanding access to state-level contracts for veteran entrepreneurs. Veteran-owned businesses have a significant impact on the American economy, employing millions of people, and often bring valuable skills like discipline, leadership, and dedication to entrepreneurship.
Key Features of the VetHUB Initiative and Lone Star College System’s Support
| Feature | Description | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Program Name | Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB) | State-level |
| Program Goal | Increase public contracting opportunities for small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. | State-level |
| Eligibility Criteria | Texas businesses at least 51% owned, managed, and operated by one or more service-disabled veterans with at least a 20% service-connected disability. | State-level |
| Certification Cost | Free of charge. | State-level |
| Certification Duration | Up to four years, with continued eligibility. | State-level |
| Key Benefit | Inclusion in the online Texas VetHUB Directory, used by state agencies and prime contractors for bids and subcontracting. | State-level |
| LSCS Role | Actively recruits, engages, and awards contracts to qualified veteran-owned businesses. | Local |
| LSCS Supplier Outreach Goals | Increase participation from local businesses, simplify vendor registration, streamline approval processes, and grow direct spending with Texas-based vendors. | Local |
| Economic Impact of Veteran Businesses | Millions of veteran-owned small businesses employ a significant workforce, contributing to the American economy. | Nationwide |
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