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Summary

MEPs provided access to financial capital, business training, and technical assistance to entrepreneurs with low incomes in communities without access to these services in order to improve the economic well-being of families with low incomes.

MEPs provided basic business training, facilitated access to financial capital and lending, and performed technical assistance for participants. The access to financial capital component included peer-to-peer lending, direct lending from the service organization, and guidance through the banking sector.

Participants were “microentrepreneurs” whose incomes were less than or equal to 150 percent of the national poverty line (in 1991 dollars). Microentrepreneurs could receive MEP services as long as their incomes remained at or below the income threshold.

The MEP model was part of a demonstration that took place at seven sites throughout the United States (St. Paul, MN; Chicago, IL; Iowa City, IA; Los Angeles, CA; Pine Bluff, AR; Raleigh, NC; and the Southwest), whose implementation of MEP varied in minor ways.

169.169.02-Study of Microenterp
Populations and employment barriers:
169.169.01-Study of Microenterp
Populations and employment barriers:

Effectiveness ratings

  • Well- supported
  • Supported
  • Mixed support
  • Not supported
  • Insufficient evidence
  • Cannot assess support

Studies of this program

Study quality rating Study counts per rating
Low Low 2
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Implementation details

State(s) where implemented

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY Canada

Pathways to Work refers to programs by the names used in study reports or manuscripts. Some program names may use language that is not consistent with our style guide, preferences, or the terminology we use to describe populations.