Support for Women Entrepreneurs in Arkansas

The Arkansas Women’s Business Center (AWBC) was one of the first organizations in the country  selected to carry out the inaugural nationwide AARP Work For Yourself @50+ Training Program. Beginning November 15, 2016, the AWBC partnered with South Arkansas Community College’s Workforce and Continuing Education Department to host a series of three training workshops in El Dorado, AR. While the Work for Yourself @+ program will facilitate trainings throughout the United States, this November training was the first to take place program-wide. Work For Yourself @50+ helped low and moderate income adults age 50+ gain the knowledge, support and resources they needed to make informed decisions and take the right first steps toward successful self-employment.

John Riggins of The Riggins Group, Inc. taught each of the three 90-minute workshops, walking participants through the Work For Yourself @50+ materials and connecting them with local resources to help them reach their goals.

“The workshop was very informative,” said Patricia, a participant. “It really helped me navigate whether I was ready for the next step of starting my own business, which is such a big step. I have now moved on to the next steps of business planning for opening my own business and am in the process of financing a building to open my own restaurant.”

Following the workshops, the AWBC offered one-on-one counseling to each participant to determine feasibility of their start-up business ideas, begin business plans, locate financial resources and take other steps toward starting her business. The AWBC trained and worked with 29 individuals between the three workshops and the one-on-one counseling from November 2016 through April 2017. Work For Yourself @50+ was made possible through a grant from The Hartford.