Veterans Business Initiative

In the summer of 2018, the City of Gloucester, in connection with the Cape Ann Office of Veteran’s Services, the Gloucester and Massachusetts Economic Departments, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and Mass Hire kicked off the Cape Ann "Veteran Owned Veteran Friendly Business Initiative". This kick-off recognized (1) organizations for its hire of Veterans and (2) individual Veteran business owners who continue to support the Veterans Community.  Applied Materials in Gloucester was recognized as being a Veteran Friendly business for their employment of over 150 Veterans. Michael Minogue of Abiomed in Danvers and Michael Linquata of the Gloucester House Restaurant were recognized as Veteran Owned Businesses and supporters of local Veterans. This initiative established a further pledge to create a list of Veteran Owned and Veteran Friendly Businesses here in the Cape Ann area. The Cape Ann Veteran Owned and Veteran Friendly Business Initiative attempts to provide potential clients with awareness of businesses owned by Veterans and businesses that provide support to our Veterans. Each business is provided with a window decal to show that they are a Veteran Owned or Veteran Friendly Business.

Veteran Owned Business:  A business owned by a former member of the United States Armed Forces who was discharged under honorable conditions. This includes but is not limited to members who served on active duty, reserves, and National Guard units.  

Veteran Friendly Business:  An organization who employs a sizable number of U.S. Military Veterans, this definition is open and determined by either sizable labor force or percentage greater than or equal to the national average of Veteran Population. An organization that provides a daily discount to U.S. Military Veterans or an organization that supports annual Cape Ann Veterans events. This may be but is not limited to monetary, gift cards, or supplies for Veteran run or Veteran Supported events such as Veterans/Memorial Day Ceremonies, Cape Ann Veterans Welcome Home Initiative, Holiday Meals Program, Operation Troop Support, etc.