Mansmann Foundation Flagship Program Renamed ‘eforever’ in Preparation for Growth Outside of Region

Pittsburgh – May 6, 2020 – Building on its six-year track record of helping small businesses in underserved communities, the Mansmann Foundation is re-naming its flagship peer-to-peer program “Entrepreneurs Forever” or “eforever” (e4ever.org) as it launches outside of western Pennsylvania.

The newly re-branded program will expand first to Massachusetts through a strategic partnership with the business accelerator nonprofit Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll). Both organizations focus on supporting entrepreneurs who do not typically have access to the resources and information needed to successfully start and grow a business. EforAll serves start-up and early stage entrepreneurs with a year-long training program. Eforever assists entrepreneurs who have made it beyond their first year in business, using a peer-to-peer model which brings small business owners together. As part of the strategic partnership, EforAll is planning to launch its accelerator in the Pittsburgh region.

Now more than ever, due to the exceptional challenges presented by the global Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners cannot be overstated.

“Today, as we look across the landscape of small businesses in every neighborhood, community and town in this country, we see many standing at the precipice of disaster. None of us — nor our community leaders —want to even imagine what our main streets might look like if these entrepreneurs ultimately don’t survive,” says eforever CEO, AJ Drexler. “But this impact will be most acutely felt in the many evolving communities that have worked so hard over decades to reinvent themselves. Today, through the expansion of its eforever program, first to Massachusetts and then beyond, the Mansmann Foundation is firmly committed to champion and support the needs of courageous small business owners. We want to ensure that they not only survive but thrive—and their communities along with them.”

“EforAll’s mission is to accelerate economic and social impact in the communities we serve through inclusive entrepreneurship,” said EforAll CEO David Parker. “The EforAll model includes intensive business training, a cohort learning environment and access to three dedicated mentors which are crucial to new businesses. Joining forces with Mansmann’s eforever program will enable EforAll’s graduates and small businesses in our communities to receive the support and training they need literally forever. Eforever’s facilitated peer-to-peer program is a perfect complement to EforAll’s accelerator program. And we think that our EforAll accelerator would be a great program for aspiring entrepreneurs in the Pittsburgh area.”

Beginning in June, 2020, eforever will establish its peer-to-peer groups in three Massachusetts locations: Lowell/Lawrence, Fall River/New Bedford and throughout Cape Cod. The program will be offered at no cost to EforAll graduates as well as other main street or existing small businesses. Monthly meetings will provide opportunities for these small business owners and entrepreneurs to meet in-person (or virtually, while physical distancing remains in effect) to share their business experiences and learn from one another under the guidance of a trained facilitator.

Since 2014, Mansmann’s peer-to-peer program has helped more than 325 entrepreneurs make better business decisions, persevere through challenges, and feel more confident in sustaining and growing their businesses in 15 different communities in the Pittsburgh area. The program utilizes professionally facilitated groups of 6-12 small and diverse business owners who meet monthly for a roundtable review of member progress, peer-to-peer problem-solving to help overcome member challenges and interactive skill-building activities. Members agree to strict confidentiality and operate non-competing businesses.

“We’ve seen first-hand how inspiring and effective these peer-to-peer groups have been in the Pittsburgh area, and we’re excited about partnering with EforAll to expand into communities like Lowell and New Bedford/FallRiver,” said AJ Drexler, CEO of eforever.

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About EforAll

Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) is a nonprofit organization that partners with communities nationwide to help under-represented individuals successfully start and grow a business through intensive business training, mentorship and an extended professional support network. To date, EforAll alumni have launched more than 500 businesses and created more than 700 local jobs. Programs are available in both English and Spanish. EforAll is currently available in the following MA communities: Berkshire County, Cape Cod, FallRiver, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford and Roxbury as well as Longmont CO. To learn moreabout EforAll, please visit eforall.org.

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About eforever

Eforever, a program of the Mansmann Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, is on a mission to support small business owners and entrepreneurs who live or operate in evolving communities. Our focus is on communities that have been overlooked or underserved. Eforever gives entrepreneurs the power to persist by providing know-how, skills training, and support in the form of professionally facilitated peer-to-peer small groups which meet monthly. The groups meet inconvenient locations to maximize accessibility for business owners. Eforever also welcomes partnerships with referral agencies and underwriting sponsors. To learn more or become a member, visit e4ever.org or email Catherine Jones at cjones@e4ever.org

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