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Summary

Microenterprise Assistance Programs (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:

Implementation at a glance

Primary service
Financial education
Program services
Financial education
Review services terms
Setting(s)
Tested in multiple settings
Year evaluation began
1991
Implementing organization(s)Women Venture (St. Paul, MN); Women's Self-Employment Project (Chicago, IL); Institute for Social and Economic Development (Iowa City, IA); Coalition for Women's Economic Development (Los Angeles, CA); Good Faith Fund (Pine Bluff, AR); Rural Economic Development Center (Raleigh, NC); and Portable Practical Education Program/Micro Industry Rural Credit Organization (Southwest United States).

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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Program cost

No cost information available.

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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

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