In honor of Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Month, the SBA Rhode Island District and the Joseph GE Knight SCORE Chapter, a resource partner of the SBA, will host two events, Financing Your Small Business Workshop followed by an Access to Capital panel discussion that will feature several members of the local lending community, and Resources Available to Start & Grow A Small Business.

These events are targeted at entrepreneurs over the age of 50 to assist these “encore entrepreneurs” with resources to start or grow a small business.

With one in four individuals ages 44 to 70 interested in becoming entrepreneurs, and 63 percent of Americans planning to work during retirement, small business ownership has never been a more viable option. SBA and AARP will offer training and mentoring services older entrepreneurs need to successfully start and grow businesses in order to create jobs.

Starting a business at any age can be a life-changing event. This SBA and AARP initiative will help potential business owners be confident they have addressed important questions as they prepare to pursue their dream of business ownership. Questions about finance, planning and market analysis should be addressed before men and women invest their time, energy and personal funds to their business.

“Financing Your Small Business Workshop – Access To Capital Panel Discussion” will be held Thursday from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Center for Women & Enterprise, 132 George M. Cohan Blvd., Providence. “Resources Available to Start & Grow A Small Business” will be held Monday, April 22 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, 3288 Post Road, Warwick.

For more information or to register, call or e-mail Matthew Spoehr at the RI District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration at 528-4561 or matthew.spoehr@sba.gov.