Scout Local and AMSE partner to help military families discover spouse-owned businesses.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORT POLK, La., August 3, 2026 - Scout Local, a mobile directory built to help military families discover trusted local and virtual businesses, today announced a pilot partnership with the Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs® (AMSE), which brings its national network of military spouse-owned businesses into Scout Local's directory, giving members a direct, no-cost pathway to be discovered by military families, beginning with Scout Local's upcoming Fort Polk launch.

Military spouses face a civilian unemployment rate of 20% - nearly four times the national average - and 57% report their pay is not sufficient for their needs, according to the Department of Defense's 2024 Survey of Active Duty Spouses. Every PCS move compounds that challenge: military families must rebuild everyday life from scratch, finding trusted businesses, services, and the people behind them, often starting over completely. Scout Local is designed to make that easier, and the AMSE partnership brings more military spouse-owned businesses into that experience, including the many members who run online, service, and product-based businesses that are not tied to a single installation.

Most resources connecting military families to military spouse-owned businesses exist as static websites or spreadsheets - useful, but easy to lose track of during a move. Scout Local is different: it is a mobile app, built for a community that relocates constantly and needs answers on the go, not a bookmark they will forget to revisit. For a family navigating a PCS move from a moving truck or a temporary Airbnb, that mobile-first design means trusted businesses are one tap away, not one search away.

Through the partnership, eligible AMSE members can submit their own businesses through a dedicated Scout Local member page. Each submission is the business owner's opt-in. Approved listings may appear in Scout Local's Fort Polk local directory, its Explore virtual discovery experience for businesses that serve customers nationwide, or be saved for future base rollouts. Listing is free, and businesses never pay to be listed or ranked. Approved listings carry Scout Local's standard Verified label, which reflects Scout Local's review process. For AMSE member submissions, eligibility may be confirmed through AMSE's member verification process, which includes GovX verification and manual review of published business links.

"Military spouse entrepreneurs build real, thriving businesses in spite of a system that was not designed for them - constant relocation, deployment, and a labor market that too often overlooks their skills."

"Visibility should not be the hardest part of running a business," said Monika Jefferson, CEO & Founder of the Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs® (AMSE). "This partnership with Scout Local closes that gap for our members, and it is the kind of infrastructure this community has needed for a long time."

"When you PCS, the hardest thing to replace is not a house, it is the feeling that you belong somewhere."

"AMSE has spent years backing the spouses who build the businesses that make a place feel like home. Bringing our work together means a family can find those businesses on day one instead of month six," said Leanna Baker Williams, founder of Scout Local.

AMSE members will be invited to submit through a dedicated link shared by AMSE beginning August 1, 2026. Listings are reviewed on a rolling basis, and approved businesses are ready to go live with Scout Local's Fort Polk launch, planned for later this summer. The partnership will also be featured at the 2026 MTMS Conference, where Scout Local will have its own booth. The collaboration is a non-exclusive pilot, with both organizations free to pursue other partnerships. Scout Local plans to expand the model to additional installations following its Fort Polk launch. AMSE members can learn more through the AMSE community. To learn more about the Scout Local and AMSE partnership, please email partnership@novalyse.com.

About Scout Local

Scout Local™ is a product of Novalyse LLC. Scout Local is a free mobile app and local directory built for military families, helping them find verified businesses, current information, and community events near each installation. The service is designed for military families and the local businesses, nonprofits, and community partners who serve them. Learn more at joinscoutlocal.com.

About AMSE

AMSE® is a social impact organization creating economic empowerment for military spouse entrepreneurs. AMSE is a global centralized network where military spouse entrepreneurs find the connections, education, tools, and resources they need to start, scale, and sustain their business. To find out more about AMSE, please email hello@amseagency.com.