If you’re a veteran or military spouse business owner in New Jersey wondering how to land a state contract, break into federal procurement, or avoid the kind of paperwork mistake that can cost a company millions of dollars, there’s only one place you need to be on Sept. 18: Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.
The NJ State Veterans Chamber of Commerce is bringing procurement experts from state government, the private sector and the federal government together under one roof for its 2026 Veteran Business Summit, running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (The event is free, but you must register here).
The event will feature a dedicated breakout session with the National Veteran Small Business Council will focus specifically on federal contracting, while a separate session is built entirely around the contracting mistakes organizers say can quietly sink a small business — the kind of errors that don’t show up until they’re already expensive.
The summit also will spotlight StandSmall.com, a new procurement portal in development with support from Congressionally Directed Spending secured by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, designed to connect veteran-owned, disabled veteran-owned and military spouse-owned businesses with government and private-sector buyers.
The event is underwritten by sponsors Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Johnson & Johnson and the N.J. Economic Development Authority.
Retired Col. Jeff Cantor said the event will help veterans in multiple ways.
“This is about opening doors — for contracts, for connections and for growth,” he said. “Our veterans deserve every opportunity to succeed in business and beyond.”
The day’s awards will recognize two lawmakers and six health care professionals for their work supporting New Jersey’s veteran community. Booker and State Sen. Troy Singleton will receive the chamber’s 2026 Lawmaker of the Year awards, while six New Jersey health care leaders will receive the SPC Lou Rose Health Care Hero Award, named for an Iraq War veteran who died from burn pit-related cancer.
Lunch will be catered by Red White & Que Smokehouse, a veteran-owned business that has also catered other recent veteran community events in the state.
