PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll), a nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate economic and social impact through inclusive entrepreneurship, and Entrepreneurs Forever (eforever), a nonprofit focused on supporting established small businesses, today announced the launch of their free programs available to all residents in the state of Rhode Island. Together, these organizations will work to provide under-represented individuals with the training and support needed to start, grow and sustain their businesses. With a 40% increase in the Hispanic population in Rhode Island over the past decade, EforAll programming will also be available in Spanish through its EparaTodos offering.
According to the Small Business Association, over half of Rhode Island’s private workforce is employed by small businesses, 10.5% of those are owned by Hispanics and 8.1% by racial minorities. The Rhode Island economy is extremely reliant on small business owners, but since January 2020, 38.1% of the state’s small businesses have closed. Rhode Island’s entrepreneurs need help recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and this joint effort from EforAll and eforever could be the key to getting small business owners back on their feet.
EforAll has hired Johnston resident Laura M. Guillén as the Executive Director to oversee its English and Spanish languages programs in Rhode Island. Laura joins EforAll from BankNewport and originally hails from the Dominican Republic. “I am so excited to join this organization that already exists in over a dozen communities across the U.S.,” said Guillén. “There are many aspiring entrepreneurs in Rhode Island that just need the guidance and advice from mentors and experts, like the ones offered in our Business Accelerator program, to get their businesses off the ground and revitalize their communities. I look forward to contributing to their success.”
With the help of organizational partners, including the Rhode Island Foundation and Skills for Rhode Island’s Future, EforAll and eforever will be able to provide entrepreneurs with support and guidance at every stage of their journey.
EforAll and its Spanish language program, EparaTodos, are one-year programs, which use a unique combination of practical business training, dedicated mentorship from local business and community leaders, and access to a large professional network. They are offered at no cost and will be available twice a year for all Rhode Island residents. eforever has a proven track record of helping established small businesses to flourish and will be working with business owners in Rhode Island through monthly peer-to-peer group meetings.
The Rhode Island Foundation has committed a three-year, $150,000 grant to support EforAll and eforever’s expansion into Rhode Island with an emphasis on small business in the communities of color.
“We are excited to have new business support programs that have successful track records in other markets come to our state,” said Neil D. Steinberg, the Foundation’s President and CEO. “This will supplement other small business programs already here and provide additional resources. Post-pandemic, Rhode Island is leading the Northeast in terms of economic recovery, which shows that our business community is strong with much more potential. By bringing in EforAll and eforever, we can help those diverse communities and entrepreneurs within the state that need an extra boost to ramp up, get back on track and grow.”
“Like EforAll and eforever, our organization works to break down barriers to economic opportunity, transforming lives through meaningful employment and economic mobility,” said Nina Pande, Executive Director, Skills for Rhode Island's Future. “Partnering with these organizations is a natural effort and one we look forward to.”
EforAll is currently looking for two local program managers to support the organization. Interested candidates can learn more about the requirements for these opportunities and apply at https://eforall.org/careers/.
eforever, under the management of Catherine Jones, recently launched its first Rhode Island peer group and is actively recruiting existing business owners for its second group. Interested candidates can sign up at https://entrepreneursforever.org/join-us/.
To learn more about these organizations and their programs, or to donate to these initiatives, visit: eforall.org and entrepreneursforever.org.
About EforAll
Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) is a nonprofit organization that partners with communities nationwide to help under-represented individuals successfully start and grow a business through intensive business training, mentorship and an extended professional support network. To date, EforAll alumni have launched over 700 businesses. In 2020 alone, its businesses provided more than 1,300 local jobs and generated over $43M in revenue, despite the pandemic. Programs are available in both English and Spanish. EforAll current locations include Buffalo, NY; Longmont, Colo.; Northwest Arkansas, Rhode Island; and the following Massachusetts communities: Berkshire County, Cape Cod, Fall River/New Bedford, Worcester, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, and Roxbury. To learn more about EforAll, please visit eforall.org.
About eforever
Entrepreneurs Forever (eforever), a program of the Mansmann Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, supports small business owners and entrepreneurs who live or operate in evolving communities. Entrepreneurs Forever gives entrepreneurs the power to persist by providing know-how, skills, training, and support in the form of professionally facilitated peer-to-peer small groups that meet monthly. Eforever welcomes partnerships with referral agencies and underwriting sponsors. To learn more or become a member, visit entrepreneursforever.org.
