Creating Texas veteran business owners

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Texas is home to nearly 1.7 million military veterans, with 35,000 moving to the Lone Star State each year.

The work and life experience these men and women have gained is invaluable. That's why the Texas Veterans Commission is focusing on turning those vets into business owners.

"A good support system, that is the best thing a person can have coming out of the military, " Heather Romiti, who served six years in the U.S. Army said.

Romoiti went through years of training gaining valuable skills, life experience, and not to mention a new perspective on life after surviving three separate I.E.D attacks that blew up her truck.

"Really maturing at a fast rate, you're forced to, you didn't have a choice, " Romoiti said.

When she came back home, she wanted to focus that experience and drive into a career, preferably one she was in charge of.

"I'm creating a product line, an herbal tea line, " said Romoiti.

After going back to school to become a health and wellness coach, she created her own herbal tea company, Blend Happy . Along the way, she has had some help from the Texas Veterans Entrepreneur Program.

"A week, they teach everything on how to run a business," she said.

Through the program, she met fellow Marine veteran Ryan Smith, who is the Founder of Signature Heathcare Search in Austin.

"Combat veterans are very well prepared to be business owners," said Ryan Scott.

Scott started his company in 2008 by himself, but now has six employees.

The TVC program has helped Scott's company evolve and many others by providing resources, funding, grants, business plan assistance and much more, helping to make the state of Texas' economy even greater.

For more information on the Texas Veterans Entrepreneur Program visit: TVC