Support for Women Entrepreneurs in Arkansas

The AARP Foundation recently launched a special initiative designed to help people over 50 who want to improve their financial status through self-employment. As part of this effort, AWBC has launched a series of four Work For Yourself @50+ workshops in Arkansas for anyone 50 years or older who is considering self-employment. The free, 90-minute workshops help older adults assess opportunities for self-employment, build skills and connect with resources that will enable them to generate income by working for themselves. With help from this initiative, people in this age group can better identify their marketable traits, talents and skills. The workshops also offer financial guidance – regardless of participants’ specific financial situation.

On January 23, Little Rock's THV11 took special interest in the project by inviting Warwick Sabin, Winrock International’s Senior Director of U.S. Programs, to share more information in an interview.

“As the economy continues to evolve, everybody is looking for opportunities for self-employment, but this particular initiative was designed by AARP Foundation to really provide resources, tools, and education to help people over 50 be able to start their own businesses and work for themselves,” Sabin said. “Through the workshop we are going to provide education but also AWBC will let people know those resources they can tap into even after that workshop so that they can have that one-on-one mentoring and consulting to help them through the process of starting a business.”

Sabin also discussed common questions budding entrepreneurs may have. “The common question really begins with ‘Can I be an entrepreneur? Can I start a business?’” he said. “I think that a lot of people have really good ideas but they don’t necessarily think of themselves as business owners. Maybe they have had a career in a particular industry and worked for decades, but they don’t know those simple steps, like how to create a business plan or access financing and all of things that go along with just getting a business started. Once we open up the opportunity for people to learn and maybe build some confidence, it is amazing how quickly people can get a business started.”

AWBC has hosted two workshops in Little Rock and one in El Dorado, training 27 people so far. The fourth workshop will take place February 5^th in Little Rock. Participants are encouraged to take advantage of free one-on-one business counseling through local resources (such as the AWBC) that will guide them through the necessary steps for starting and running a successful business.  

Links:

• Winrock's Warwick Sabin talks to THV11 about AWBC