AARP Massachusetts Expands Mentoring Program with SBA

AARP Massachusetts is launching the fourth year of its free outreach efforts with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help older Americans who want to start or expand a small businesses, according to a press statement.

New in 2015 is a “Summer of Encore Mentoring” initiative in which AARP State Offices and SBA District Offices nationwide will offer events specifically designed to help encore entrepreneurs – those aged 50 and older who want to start or grow a small business. The “Summer of Encore Mentoring” builds on 2012’s successful Mentor Day, which grew into two successful “Mentor Months” in 2013 and 2014. “Summer of Encore Mentoring” events will be held in June, July, and August.

AARP Massachusetts will conduct an Encore Entrepreneur event on Wednesday, June 3rd from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at Hyannis Town Hall, 367 Main St. in Hyannis. To register, visit: aarp.cvent.com/encorehyannis

“Whether people are starting a business to fulfill a passion or because they need the income, the AARP-SBA Encore Entrepreneurship initiative will provide advice and resources to help them succeed,” said Mike Festa, AARP MA State Director.

“We are excited to again be partnering with AARP Massachusetts and SCORE to help our Encore Entrepreneurs learn about the wide array of programs and services available in the Commonwealth, and we are hoping for a great turnout on Cape Cod. We know that 25 percent of individuals ages 44 to 70 are interested in becoming entrepreneurs, and the SBA and our partner network want to be the conduit to their success,” said Robert Nelson, SBA Massachusetts District Director.

Since the program began in 2012, the AARP-SBA national initiative has served over 305,000 current or prospective entrepreneurs, with over 186,000 of those engagements achieved in 2014. This year, AARP and SBA plans to jointly counsel, train or mentor over 75,000 new and existing Encore Entrepreneurs, and give them the tools they need to succeed.

For more information, visit aarp.org/StartABusiness or call 1-877-926-8300.