May 27, 2015 1 min read

The Small Business Administration is launching its Summer of Mentoring program nationwide. It will begin locally with an event at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Charleroi Borough Building, 338 Fallowfield Ave.

Natalia Olson-Urtecho, administrator of the SBA’s Mid-Atlantic Region, will be on hand along with five individuals trying to build up the Mon Valley through small business ownership, particularly among older adults. Jean Ann Gallo, Cathy McCollom, Donn Henderson, Trish Brickner and Ray Vargo will relay their experiences.

Referring to a February report by The Kauffman Foundation, Olson-Urtrecho said the number of entrepreneurs ages 55-64 rose steadily from 14 percent in 1996 to 23 percent in 2013.

There also will be a forum on small business ownership June 9 in Charleroi. A free course titled “The First Step: The Mechanics of Starting a Small Business” also will be offered there that evening.

Those planning to attend Friday’s forum and/or the “First Step” course should contact the Washington County office of the University of Pittsburgh’s Small Business Development Center at 724-229-8078 or at virev@innovation.pitt.edu.