ALBUQUERQUE, NM – The owner of an Albuquerque-based business that was launched with help from the New Mexico Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) has been selected as the state's 2018 New Mexico SBA Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

One Community Auto, LLC was created by retired U.S. Air Force Major and Albuquerque native Gary Peterson. Founded in 2013 upon his retirement from service, the company refurbishes used vehicles donated to non-profit organizations. The vehicles are then resold — with the organizations keeping a large portion of the profit.

The VBOC is the business development division of the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services (DVS). It helps entrepreneurial-minded veterans and transitioning active-duty service members with launching or growing a small business — providing assistance with everything from seeking start-up funding, business planning, marketing, and ongoing business counseling.

Mr. Peterson sought the VBOC's assistance to help fine-tune his vision of using his lifelong love of cars into starting a vehicle-refurbishing business that would help charities.

"We are extremely proud of Gary for this well-deserved award," said DVS Secretary Jack Fox. "I'm pleased that the SBA has recognized not only Gary's vision of developing a post-military service business, but also his strong desire to launch a business which help agencies dedicated to helping those less fortunate in his community."

The company was also recognized last year as one of only three 2017 American Small Business Championship National Grand Champions awarded by SCORE--the nation's largest network of volunteer expert business mentors.

More information about One Community Auto LLC can be found at www.onecommunityauto.com.

The New Mexico Veterans' Business Outreach Center
The New Mexico Veterans' Business Outreach Center (VBOC) was created by the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services to help entrepreneurial-minded veterans, transitioning active duty personnel, or their spouses with their business development needs. It is funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration and was the first state-managed center in the nation created specifically to help veterans.

New Mexico's VBOC is located in Albuquerque but provides this free service statewide. More information can be found at www.nmvboc.org or by contacting VBOC Director Rich Coffel at (505) 383-2401 or richardL.coffel@state.nm.us.

VBOC Veterans Business Advisor James Cassidy can provide assistance in southern and southeastern New Mexico from the VBOC field office in Roswell. He can be contacted at jamesm.cassidy@state.nm.us or (575) 624-6002.