Veteran Business Project adds John Borling to board

Veteran Business Project has named retired Maj. Gen. John L. Borling to its board as the nonprofit pushes to scale its veteran business acquisition model nationwide. The move comes as more small business owners near retirement and more veterans look for post-service economic opportunity.

Why it matters: - Veteran Business Project is trying to expand a model that links veterans with existing businesses for sale, aiming to preserve small businesses and create new ownership paths. - Borling brings military leadership, nonprofit management and civic relationships that could help the nonprofit reach more capital, more partners and more veterans. - The organization says the model can give veterans immediate income opportunities, long-term financial stability and renewed purpose.

What happened: - Veteran Business Project announced that retired Maj. Gen. John L. Borling has joined its board of directors. - The announcement came from Naperville, Illinois, as the nonprofit said it is expanding its national growth strategy. - Borling is a Chicago native and 1963 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. - Borling served 33 years in high-level command and staff roles around the world. - Borling was shot down over North Vietnam on his 97th combat mission in 1966 and spent six and a half years as a prisoner of war.

The details: - Veteran Business Project has served more than 1,500 veterans and military spouses over the past 14 years. - The nonprofit enrolled 400 new participants last year. - The program connects veterans with existing businesses for sale and provides mentorship and coaching at no cost. - Veteran Business Project also guides participants through the acquisition process. - The model is designed to preserve successful businesses and help veterans build wealth through ownership. - After his military career, Borling led a turnaround of Chicago's United Way and grew annual campaigns to more than $95 million. - Borling is a life member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, a laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois and a recipient of the Order of Lincoln. - Borling's poems, written while he was held at the Hanoi Hilton, were later published in "Taps on the Walls: Poems from the Hanoi Hilton," with a foreword by Sen. John McCain.

Between the lines: - Veteran Business Project is positioning board leadership as part of a broader push to scale without losing its hands-on approach. - Lynn Lowder said Borling's networks could help the nonprofit access capital, federal relationships and philanthropic circles. - Borling said the challenge is growing the program nationally while keeping the personal touch that makes the model work. - Borling also framed the effort as an economic opportunity for companies that have already been vetted and proven profitable.

What's next: - Borling will advise Veteran Business Project on strategic growth, capital access and national expansion. - The nonprofit plans to keep building its veteran business ownership pipeline as more owners retire and more service members transition to civilian life. - More information is available at VeteranBusinessProject.org.

The bottom line: - Veteran Business Project is betting that experienced leadership and a proven acquisition model can turn veteran transition into business ownership at national scale.