ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Some people decide to start their own businesses when they get out of prison. If you are interested in this route, there are resources to assist you.

Inmates to Entrepreneurs

Are you interested in starting or growing a business? Inmates to Entrepreneurs offers online resources, correctional facility workshops, and city-based events to help you get started. Choose the course that works for you:

8 Week Online Scheduled Course

Inmates to Entrepreneurs hosts an eight-week course for anyone with a criminal background who has started or is interested in starting their own small business. This free course is offered year round. Topics covered include marketing, business finances, setting up a business, and sales, among others.

Starter U Online Self-Paced Course

The Brian Hamilton Foundation’s Starter U: How to Start and Grow a Business is a free, self-paced online course teaching everything you need to know to start, run, and grow a business. Whether you live in Portland, Oregon or Portland, Maine, work 3rd shift or 1st shift, this course is designed to give you, the entrepreneur, the flexibility to learn according to your schedule.

This course covers business ideation, marketing, selling, customer service, how to overcome the biggest obstacle stopping you from starting your business: you. Through roughly twelve hours of instruction, entrepreneur stories, quizzes, and discussion topics, we distill everything you absolutely need to know to start your business tomorrow. At the end of the course, you will receive a certification proving you have successfully completed the course. So, what are you waiting for? Start today!

For more information, visit https://inmatestoentrepreneurs.org/

The Small Business Workshop Series

Get the basics through the FREE informational workshop series presented by the PPL (Providence Public Library) and RI SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). Counselors present and discuss the various aspects of planning and owning a business. PPL staff discusses print and electronic resources available at the Library to research your business and marketing plan.

The Small Business Workshop Series runs on Saturdays, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm each spring and fall. Space is generally limited and registration is required.

Website: https://www.provlib.org/education/adults/small-business-workshop-series/

Contact: Ann Poulos, pplref@provlib.org (Put “Attention: Ann P” in the subject line), 401-455-8005

The Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG)

SEG offers programs to help you start and run a business enterprise to achieve social and environmental impact as well as economic growth.

Website: https://segreenhouse.org/ Email: info@segreenhouse.org  Phone: 401-272-2558

Address: 10 Davol Square, Suite #100, Providence, RI 02903  SEG also has locations in Pawtucket/Central Falls and Newport. See their website for more information.