Community Corner
Army National Guard Vet Champions Fellow Veteran Entrepreneurs Through His Retail Marketplace
After 26 years of military service, Donnell Johns created a marketplace that helps fellow veterans turn their business dreams into reality.
Whether it’s serving as a military officer or stepping up as a first responder, it takes a rare combination of dedication, resilience and heart to take on these roles. And for many of these individuals, that same drive carries over into life beyond the badge.
Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to spotlight active-duty military members, veterans and first responders who continue to lead, inspire and give back in meaningful ways across their communities.
Donnell Johns spent 26 years in the military—most recently as a Sergeant Major in the Army National Guard—and like many veterans, he decided to transition from soldier to small business owner. He noticed that, while many organizations offered general support to veterans, few focused specifically on entrepreneurship. So he built one himself.
Find out what's happening in Dale Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In 2023, Johns opened the first Veterans Growing America, an outdoor retail marketplace in Woodbridge, Virginia, that exclusively features veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs. Whether they sell art, apparel, skincare items or anything in between, every vendor shares a common background in military service. A second shop has since opened in Clarksburg, Maryland.
In a 7News article about the shop, Johns shared that he wanted to provide a place to help fellow veterans turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. However, it goes far beyond that: Veterans Growing America also offers a sense of community for service members who return from deployments feeling “a bit detached or lost.”
Find out what's happening in Dale Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“It feels like home again, where people have the common goal with the same values: Passion, purpose and prosperity," Johns told 7News.
Through local events, partnerships, and marketing programs, Veterans Growing America aims to grow relationships and opportunities nationwide. The organization’s vision is to be a premier platform that helps veterans and military spouses succeed while encouraging Americans to “shop veteran first.”
Want to learn more? Visit Veterans Growing America’s website or read the full article on 7News.
This content is brought to our community by T-Mobile.