With an unreliable job market at hand, more and more Americans are deciding to take the entrepreneurial tract at an older age. Now they can have help doing so through resources provided by the American Association for Retired People (AARP) and the Small Business Administration (SBA). The two organizations have joined forces in helping to guide those who want to create businesses later on in life.This joint initiative was created with an aim to help 100,000 Americans, age 50 and over, access resources that can help with entrepreneurship.
According to the National Council on Aging, one in eight unemployed adults over age 65 have dealt with long-term unemployment. These senior citizens have faced at least 99 weeks or more of unemployment. For adults age 55 and over facing unemployment, 11.51 percent have been actively searching for jobs for at least two years. This is significantly high in comparison to the 6 percent of unemployed workers under age 35.
"Millions of Americans keep dreaming of owning their own business as a second or third career, using their creative talents to do productive work that also helps them gain economic stability as they move toward retirement," AARP CEO A. Barry Rand said in a statement. "This collaboration will combine SBA's formidable resources for entrepreneurs with AARP's vast membership and extensive promotional channels."
Those who are capable of accessing information online can quickly obtain it from the SBA website. The site provides mentoring and guidance to those aiming to start small businesses. There is also access to SBA financing resources on the page.
The Small Business Administration will also provide help on the AARP website. The self employment section of the AARP site will be run by the SBA. This section will feature online training courses to help guide elderly aiming to create and start up new businesses. For those who would prefer to receive business help in person, the site It will also include a link to business counselors local to those seeking assistance.
