Resources

The Veteran’s Incubator for Better Entrepreneurship (VIBE) provides military veterans, and military spouses the education, resources, and supportive environment to use their natural inclinations and skills to innovate and create their own professional lanes through entrepreneurship. VIBE, taps into several Washington regional assets—motivated veterans, a supportive community, a university setting—with the goal of supporting students as they learn about entrepreneurship and turn their ideas into viable businesses.

This is a road map for opening a business in the state of Washington. There are eight steps in the road map but not all of them will apply to your business. We recommend you read through all steps in this road map before applying for your business license. You can download the Road Map as a PDF file if you prefer that format.

Here are the 8 steps:

1. Research and make a plan;
2. Register your business with the Secretary of State (SOS);
3. License your business with the Department of Revenue (DOR);
4. Report your new employees to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS);
5. Apply for a Reseller Permit with the Department of Revenue (DOR);
6. Register as a contractor with Department of Labor & Industries (L&I);
7. Contact your local health department for food handling requirements; and
8. Check with your City and/or County for their requirements.

Start here to see what's involved in each step

The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.

The Small Business Guides provides helpful information, links to valuable resources, and outlines the steps for starting and operating a business in Washington state. The Small Business Guide is available in English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese.

The Business Guide includes sections that will help you plan, run, grow, or close a business in Washington State.

Get Verified to do Business with VA

Get verified through the Vets First Verification Program to participate in the Veterans First Contracting Program for VA set-asides and sole-source contracts for SDVOSBs and VOSBs.

Bunker Labs was built by military veteran entrepreneurs to empower other military veterans as leaders in innovation. The organization provides educational programming, mentors, events and thriving local networks to help military veterans start and grow businesses.

The Veteran Business Outreach Program is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard & Reserve members and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. The SBA has 22 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC).

The Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises is charged with certifying small, minority and women-owned businesses to facilitate their participation in public contracting and procurement. This is accomplished through a comprehensive certification process and education. The outcome - successful small businesses led by minorities, women and veterans help make our economy and our families more resilient, strengthening our communities and improving the quality of life for all Washingtonians.

No cost, confidential, one-on-one technical assistance in all aspects of selling to federal, state, and local governments.

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The Veteran’s Incubator for Better Entrepreneurship (VIBE) provides military veterans, and military spouses the education, resources, and supportive environment to use their natural inclinations and skills to innovate and create their own professional lanes through entrepreneurship. VIBE, taps into several Washington regional assets—motivated veterans, a supportive community, a university setting—with the goal of supporting students as they learn about entrepreneurship and turn their ideas into viable businesses.

This is a road map for opening a business in the state of Washington. There are eight steps in the road map but not all of them will apply to your business. We recommend you read through all steps in this road map before applying for your business license. You can download the Road Map as a PDF file if you prefer that format.

Here are the 8 steps:

1. Research and make a plan;
2. Register your business with the Secretary of State (SOS);
3. License your business with the Department of Revenue (DOR);
4. Report your new employees to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS);
5. Apply for a Reseller Permit with the Department of Revenue (DOR);
6. Register as a contractor with Department of Labor & Industries (L&I);
7. Contact your local health department for food handling requirements; and
8. Check with your City and/or County for their requirements.

Start here to see what's involved in each step

The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.

The Small Business Guides provides helpful information, links to valuable resources, and outlines the steps for starting and operating a business in Washington state. The Small Business Guide is available in English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese.

The Business Guide includes sections that will help you plan, run, grow, or close a business in Washington State.

Get Verified to do Business with VA

Get verified through the Vets First Verification Program to participate in the Veterans First Contracting Program for VA set-asides and sole-source contracts for SDVOSBs and VOSBs.

Bunker Labs was built by military veteran entrepreneurs to empower other military veterans as leaders in innovation. The organization provides educational programming, mentors, events and thriving local networks to help military veterans start and grow businesses.

The Veteran Business Outreach Program is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard & Reserve members and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. The SBA has 22 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC).

The Veteran Business Outreach Program is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard & Reserve members and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. The SBA has 22 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC).

Bunker Labs was built by military veteran entrepreneurs to empower other military veterans as leaders in innovation. The organization provides educational programming, mentors, events and thriving local networks to help military veterans start and grow businesses.

The Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises is charged with certifying small, minority and women-owned businesses to facilitate their participation in public contracting and procurement. This is accomplished through a comprehensive certification process and education. The outcome - successful small businesses led by minorities, women and veterans help make our economy and our families more resilient, strengthening our communities and improving the quality of life for all Washingtonians.

I was born in 1943 in the highly industrialized city of East Chicago, Ind. My father was a steel worker for forty-three years and my mother was a librarian for many years. My father was the quiet man who never missed any of my baseball games unless he was working. My mother taught me not to judge unless you walk in the other person’s shoes. My three year older brother, Chuck, was a heart surgeon until he retired. I graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1961 and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of San Francisco.

My first clinical experience was working for the Salvation Army. My wife and I married in 1966. I completed a Master of Science Degree in clinical psychology from San Jose State University. My work/study experience gave me the opportunity to work at the Menlo Park Veterans Administration Hospital. It was a unique program that taught veterans transferable skills for the real world while at the time giving them the opportunity to receive counseling services. I then completed my Ph. D. in clinical psychology at Michigan State University. After completing my course work I completed my internship at Napa State Hospital.

While finishing my doctoral research at Illinois State University. I was coordinator of the master’s level clinical training for two years. I came to Spokane in 1975 to teach at Gonzaga University. In 1977 I went into private practice performing forensic evaluations, Social Security Disability evaluations and treating clients. I was recruited by Tom Schumacher to participate in the PTSD program and have been doing it for many years. The work has been very satisfying and never dull. You have to feel good when one of your seventy-year old veteran clients was just accepted into a Ph. D. program in Australia.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), and Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional (CDP).

I have resolved through therapy myself both childhood and adult post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) My personal experiences and recovery give me a unique perspective and a distinct advantage when working with clients who have had similar experiences. The three groups of clients I most enjoy working with are Veterans, Couples, and Teens. My life and the lives of most of my clients are living examples showing that the effects of trauma and TBI can be reduced and in many cases eliminated.

I am also a military veteran.  I served proudly for 12 years in the Navy on four submarines.  It was a privilege to be a member of that elite corps of military professionals. I have worked with active duty military as well as veterans and their families – from WWII through Iraq and Afghanistan.

I thoroughly enjoy working with my clients. Each client teaches me something new about myself and my field of work.  I invite you to schedule an appointment to see if you think you can work with me to deal with the issues that intrude on your life, and to claim for yourself a higher quality of life.

As a person, though, I am more than the sum of my licenses, degrees, and experiences.  I am a husband with a fabulous wife, Kathleen, and a dad and stepdad to four amazing kids and 12 grandkids. Kathleen and I have a 8-year-old German Shepherd, Frejya, who is a part of our practice. I am training Frejya as both a service dog and therapy dog – or maybe she is training me!  You can find me at http://www.brain-healing.net and contact me at jack.stell@brain-healing.net.

Clark D. Ashworth, Ph.D.  Dr. Ashworth is a psychologist licensed in Washington. After a tour in the U.S. Navy (1967 – 72) he completed his education including a doctoral program at the University of Washington. He supervises staff at NorthEast Washington Family Counseling and provides individual, family, and group therapy as well as disability and forensic evaluations.

Ronald E. Graham, LICSWA. Ron is a clinical social worker licensed in Washington. Ron retired from the US Army in 2017 after 25 years and is a veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan. He completed his graduate program at Eastern Washington University and provides clinical individual, family, and group therapy.

Louis J. DiConti, M.S., is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate in Washington. Following service in the Marine Corps Reserve 2004-2012, including two combat tours to Iraq, he completed his education at Eastern Washington University earning his Master of Science in Applied Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling. Louis provides individual and couples therapy at NorthEast Washington Family Counseling. Louis is a person-centered therapist with a passion for assisting individuals achieve a greater sense of empowerment and overall wellbeing. Louis specializes in veteran readjustment.

Kaali T.M. Sill is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Substance Use Disorder Professional in Washington.  She completed her B.A. at Western Washington University and graduated with her Masters of Social Work from Walla Walla University.  She provides individual counseling to adults, children and teens as well as group therapy

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is a nine-member council supported by a cabinet-level state agency. By statute, the Council provides strategic planning, oversight, advocacy, and program administration to support increased student success and higher levels of educational attainment in Washington.

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is a nine-member council supported by a cabinet-level state agency. By statute, the Council provides strategic planning, oversight, advocacy, and program administration to support increased student success and higher levels of educational attainment in Washington.

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is a nine-member council supported by a cabinet-level state agency. By statute, the Council provides strategic planning, oversight, advocacy, and program administration to support increased student success and higher levels of educational attainment in Washington.

The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs helps connect veterans and their family members to the benefits and services they earned through their military service. 

Our Central Office is located in Olympia and includes a Veterans Service Center as well as administrative support for all agency programs.

WDVA offers long-term care in our four State Veteran Homes (the Washington Soldiers Home, the Washington Veterans Home, the Spokane Veterans Home, and the Walla Walla Veterans Home) for honorably discharged veterans, and in some cases, their spouses. 

The Veterans Services and Counseling and Wellness Divisions provide claims assistance as well as counseling services for veterans and their family members.  And our State Veterans Cemetery honors veterans in their final resting place.