The Evolution of VETSACTS to MVACTS

MVACTS is more than just a business opportunity; it's a mission to empower and support military and veteran entrepreneurs.

Gary W. Birmingham

When I first came up with the idea for VETSACTS (Veterans' Arts, Crafts, Trades, and Services), I focused on helping homeless veterans. I wanted to provide them with the resources, training, and support they needed to start and grow their own businesses in the fields of arts and crafts.

However, as the program grew, I realized that it was important to include military members as well. Both veterans and military members have unique skills, experiences, and challenges that can be harnessed through entrepreneurship in the fields of arts, crafts, trades, and services.

That's why I decided to expand the program and rebrand it as MVACTS (Military and Veterans' Arts, Crafts, Trades, and Services). This name change reflects the program's expanded focus on both military members and veterans and its mission to empower and support all military and veteran entrepreneurs.

In terms of the distinction between arts and crafts, arts typically refer to the creation of visual works, such as painting, sculpture, and drawing, that are primarily created for aesthetic or expressive purposes. They are often considered to be fine arts and are typically produced by trained artists.

Crafts, on the other hand, refers to the creation of functional or decorative objects, such as pottery, textiles, and jewelry, that are typically produced by skilled artisans. Crafts often have a utilitarian purpose and can be made by hand or machine.

As for the difference between a trading business and a service business, a trading business is a type of business that buys and sells goods, whereas a service business is a type of business that provides services to customers.

The acts in VETSACTS and MVACTS are also a play on words. Not only does it stand for arts, crafts, trades, and services, it also stands for the word acts itself. Meaning the actions of the military and veterans. The name is a reminder of the important role that military and veterans play in our society and the contributions that they make through their businesses and their everyday actions.

It is also worth noting that MVACTS is a hands-up project, enabling military and veterans to1 threecategoso wor