Workshops to promote entrepreneurship among individuals ages 50 and older
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), will host “encore entrepreneur” events in Fredericksburg and Charlottesville in March, focusing on people who are considering starting a business as a second career. “AARP supports developing opportunities for older Americans to pursue entrepreneurship as a means to generate income, boost financial security and assist others in meeting needs,” said AARP Virginia State President Bob Blancato. “AARP creates real possibilities by connecting experienced workers with the practical information and guidance they need to start or grow a small business.”
AARP and SBA provide a range of resources to more than 100,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners over the age of 50. The workshops will help connect encore entrepreneurs, and individuals interested in becoming one, with mentors such as those from SBA’s network of Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and SCORE chapters who can help throughout the life of an entrepreneur’s business.
“Many new entrepreneurs are saving their best acts for their encore performance,” said SBA Administrator Marianne O’Brien Markowitz. “They’re using their decades of expertise and their rolodexes to start new businesses and to finally pursue that venture that has been stirring their dreams for all these years. We are focusing our efforts during to help transform those dreams into reality.”
The following workshops will be held in Virginia in March:
Charlottesville – Tuesday, March 18 2 – 4 p.m. Virginia Workforce Center 2211 Hydraulic Road Charlottesville VA 22901
Attendees can also call 1-877-926-8300 to register for either workshop.
Small business ownership is a good option for many baby boomers. One in four individuals ages 44 to 70 is interested in becoming an entrepreneur and 63 percent of Americans plan to work during retirement, according to the website www.encore.org.
